University of Tasmania, Australia

Three phase study to develop and implement protocols that guide best care of older people with dementia admitted to hospital for acute medical treatment.

Hospital separations for people with a principal diagnosis of dementia will quadruple by 2031, indicative of the ever increasing high personal and health care costs associated with care provision. The disruption of normal care patterns and the foreign nature of the acute care environments may contribute to behaviour changes, disorientation and/or general discomfort of people with dementia (PWD) and their carers. The education, knowledge and attitudes of staff are often influenced by the culture of the hospital or individual wards within the hospital. This may not promote an awareness of and sensitivity to the special needs of older PWD.

There is a paucity of literature which specifically guides the care of PWD and their carers within acute care settings. The aim of this project is to design and implement protocols that will guide the provision of specialist care to PWD who are admitted to hospital. A first phase of the study will be the development and testing of an instrument to measure knowledge, attitudes and skills related to the specialist care of PWD. Phase two will scope the knowledge, skills and attitudes of health professionals in three hospitals in Tasmania. Phase three will use the results from phase two to work with professional staff at one hospital to develop education programs and protocols that matches the extant needs of staff. The research will be undertaken in iterative cycles of action and reflection until the protocols are refined and staff knowledge and attitudes are matched to the needs of PWD and their carers.