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A life history intervention for individuals with dementia: a randomised controlled trial examining nursing staff empathy, perceived patient personhood and aggressive behaviours

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 August 2015

HEATHER ERITZ ,
THOMAS HADJISTAVROPOULOS ,
JAIME WILLIAMS ,
KRISTINE KROEKER ,
RONALD R. MARTIN ,
LISA M. LIX  and
PAULETTE V. HUNTER
HEATHER ERITZ
Affiliation:
Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Canada. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Canada.
THOMAS HADJISTAVROPOULOS*
Affiliation:
Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Canada. Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Canada.
JAIME WILLIAMS
Affiliation:
Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Canada.
KRISTINE KROEKER
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
RONALD R. MARTIN
Affiliation:
Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Canada. Faculty of Education, University of Regina, Canada.
LISA M. LIX
Affiliation:
Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, Canada. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
PAULETTE V. HUNTER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
*
Address for correspondence: Thomas Hadjistavropoulos, Centre on Aging and Health, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Pkwy, Regina, SK, Canada S4S 0A2 E-mail: Thomas.Hadjistavropoulos@uregina.ca
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Abstract

Behaviours of concern (e.g. aggression) are often present in residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities diagnosed with dementia and may impact quality of life. Prior uncontrolled research has shown that an intervention involving sharing resident life histories may be effective in reducing aggressive behaviours and improving quality of life, perhaps by increasing staff empathy. We used a randomised controlled design, involving a considerably larger sample than previous investigations. We also examined staff perceptions of LTC resident personhood in relation to aggressive behaviour. Seventy-three residents were randomised to either a life history intervention (N = 38) or a control condition (N = 35). Ninety-nine nurses and care aides answered questionnaires about their own attitudes and the residents' behaviours and quality of life at baseline, post-intervention and at follow-up. Results of mixed-effects modelling indicated significant differences between groups in personhood perception and resident quality of life. Personhood perception mediated the relationship between the intervention and improved quality of life. We identified significant negative correlations between resident cognitive impairment and staff perceptions of resident personhood. Qualitative findings suggested that staff primarily changed their verbal interactions with residents following the intervention, which may be particularly helpful for residents with the most severe dementia. Our results indicate that LTC residents benefit when life histories are constructed with their families and shared with nursing staff.

Keywords

life historiesperson-centred caredementia care and aggressionquality of life
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 36 , Issue 10 , November 2016 , pp. 2061 - 2089
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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