Understanding what supports dementia friendly hospital environments v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Realist Evaluation of interventions that support the creation of dementia friendly environments in health care
IRAS ID
192294
Contact name
Claire Goodman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 26 days
Research summary
People living with dementia (PLWD) are reported to receive inconsistent standards of health care in hospitals. This leads to unfavourable outcomes such as extended length of stay, the occurrence of adverse events (falls, problems with nutrition and hydration, and the development of delirium), high levels of readmissions, and poor satisfaction with services. Healthcare strategies and policies attempt to reduce the variability in services through recommendations for training, clinical leadership roles and commissioning specialist mental health teams to improve the quality of care for PLWD. Following these recommendations, hospitals have implemented a variety of initiatives broadly termed ‘dementia friendly interventions’. Dementia friendly interventions in health care promote staff awareness of dementia and associated difficulties for PLWD, and inclusion and involvement PLWD and their carers in care decisions. Interventions have been implemented in hospitals across England and have been supported by staff who have a role in influencing changing practice in other staff (change agents). The aim of this study is to explain the acceptance of interventions in hospitals with staff who care for PLWD, the role of the change agent in supporting implementation, how staff use the resources, and with what outcomes for PLWD and their carers. We will look in detail at how dementia friendly initiatives have been implemented in medical wards that focus on the care of older people at two hospitals to understand how PLWD are cared for and what supports staff to make decisions for care. Data collection will use observation of staff and patient interactions, interviews with staff, patients and carers, patient surveys, medical notes review and documentary review from participating organisations. Following a pilot period, the study will run for three months. The findings will aim to explain what works, for whom, in what circumstances, and why. The study is funded by Alzheimer’s Society.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0263
Date of REC Opinion
11 Aug 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion