Formal nursing assessment of behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) of dementia: A systematic review
Tracks
Ballroom 1
Dementia
Mental Health
Psychology
| Friday, November 15, 2024 |
| 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM |
Speaker
Prof Claire Donnellan
Professor Of Nursing Research
Claire Donnellan
Formal nursing assessment of behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD) of dementia: A systematic review
Abstract
Background: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) can be challenging in care provision, including disruption to living, requiring appropriate management. Consistent objective assessment of symptoms is vital for both recommending and implementing relevant care. The aim of this review was to identify assessment tools nurses use in clinical practice settings to assess patients with dementia for BPSD.
Method: A systematic search was conducted using databases CINAHL, PubMed and PsycINFO to identify studies addressing nursing assessment of BPSD. Studies were included if nurses were recorded as using a formal tool to assess symptoms of BPSD and were of a quantitative research design.
Results: Out of 377 hits, n=19 studies were identified relevant for inclusion, with n = 9 studies using assessment tools to measure symptoms and n = 10 for tool validation. Thirty-one assessment tools were identified, with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) used the most frequent (n=4). Nursing assessment methods of symptoms were identified as observational (n=6), chart review (n=3), direct patient assessment (n=5) or by proxy reports from staff (n=5). Apathy was the most frequently reported symptom with prevalence rates between 1% and 60% followed by physical aggression (22%-44%). The Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients
was the only nurse specific assessment tool identified for BPSD.
Conclusion: Nurses are actively engaged in assessment of BPSD in clinical practice using diverse assessment modalities with observational assessment remaining the most common. Further education and training in assessment methods and tool implementation is required to support nurses in formal assessment of BPSD.
Method: A systematic search was conducted using databases CINAHL, PubMed and PsycINFO to identify studies addressing nursing assessment of BPSD. Studies were included if nurses were recorded as using a formal tool to assess symptoms of BPSD and were of a quantitative research design.
Results: Out of 377 hits, n=19 studies were identified relevant for inclusion, with n = 9 studies using assessment tools to measure symptoms and n = 10 for tool validation. Thirty-one assessment tools were identified, with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) used the most frequent (n=4). Nursing assessment methods of symptoms were identified as observational (n=6), chart review (n=3), direct patient assessment (n=5) or by proxy reports from staff (n=5). Apathy was the most frequently reported symptom with prevalence rates between 1% and 60% followed by physical aggression (22%-44%). The Nurses' Observation Scale for Geriatric Patients
was the only nurse specific assessment tool identified for BPSD.
Conclusion: Nurses are actively engaged in assessment of BPSD in clinical practice using diverse assessment modalities with observational assessment remaining the most common. Further education and training in assessment methods and tool implementation is required to support nurses in formal assessment of BPSD.
Biography
Claire is Professor of Nursing Research at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Edith Cowan University, Perth. She is dual qualified as a Chartered Health Psychologist and a Registered General Nurse with over 30 years of global experience in healthcare practice, higher education, and research innovation. She qualified with a B.Sc. (Hons) in Psychology from University of London (2002), Ph.D. in Gerontology from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) (2008) and MSc in Advanced Neuroimaging from University College London (2020). Her scientific interests include examining and understanding consequences of large and small cerebral vessel disease, and neurodegeneration on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural health of older adults. She has been a principal investigator and director for interdisciplinary research projects in neurology, gerontology and cerebrovascular disease in the UK, Ireland, Bahrain, and Australia. In addition to academic studies, her research experience includes initiating and project managing pharmacological clinical trials in cardiovascular disease, endocrinology, and movement disorders (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinson-plus syndromes). She leads a program of research with an overarching focus on secondary ageing prevention including investigation of psychological variables and brain health across the life course.
Session Chair
Diane Gibson
Distinguished Professor
University Of Canberra
