Shared decision aid nutrition/hydration in dementia in acute hospitals
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a shared decision aid regarding nutrition and hydration for people with severe dementia in acute hospitals
IRAS ID
270775
Contact name
Kanthee Anantapong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Z6364106/2019/10/80, UCL Data Protection Number
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 29 days
Research summary
Background: Decisions about nutrition and hydration are particularly difficult. These decisions may be complex, challenging, emotionally demanding and cause considerable stress to family carers and practitioners. These decisions are more complicated in acute hospital settings where people with dementia are physically unwell and may require other invasive procedures. Family carers and practitioners may benefit from a decision aid, to help them consider various information and choices, tailored to the patients’ conditions and needs.
Aim: This study aims to understand how family carers and practitioners make decisions about nutrition and hydration for someone with severe dementia, and to develop a decision aid to support family carers and practitioners when making the decisions in acute hospitals.
Methods: The decision aid will be grounded in the experiences of family carers and practitioners. This study will consist of two work streams (WS): WS1 a qualitative study of semi-structured interviews with family carers and practitioners in acute hospitals; WS2 will be a series of workshops with family carers, practitioners and collaborators to synthesise the findings from our previous studies and WS1 to develop a decision aid. We will conduct user testing with the family carers, practitioners and our collaborators as part of the co-design process.
Potential outcomes: 1) an understanding of the process of decision making about nutrition and hydration in family carers and practitioners for people with severe dementia in the acute hospital setting; 2) an understanding of educational needs of family carers and practitioners; and 3) a co-designed decision aid ready to be tested.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/LO/0049
Date of REC Opinion
4 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion