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A pilot study of differences in behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in nursing home residents in Sydney and Shanghai

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2009

Helen Zong Ying Wu ,
Lee-Fay Low ,
Shifu Xiao  and
Henry Brodaty
Helen Zong Ying Wu*
Affiliation:
Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Coogee, Australia
Lee-Fay Low
Affiliation:
Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Coogee, Australia
Shifu Xiao
Affiliation:
Geriatric Psychiatry Department, Shanghai Mental Health Centre, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China
Henry Brodaty
Affiliation:
Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Coogee, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Helen Zong Ying Wu, Primary Dementia Collaborative Research Centre, UNSW, 45 Beach Street, Coogee, NSW 2034, Australia. Phone: + 61 0414 686 568; Fax: + 61 9385-9075. Email: helenwzy@hotmail.com.
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Abstract

Background: There are limited cross-cultural studies of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The aim of the present study was to increase understanding of the effects of culture on BPSD by comparing the rates of BPSD in nursing home residents across three residential facility types: (1) mainstream nursing homes in Sydney, (2) ethno-specific Chinese nursing homes in Sydney, and (3) a long-term high care facility in Shanghai known as a dementia hospital.

Methods: 149 residents and their caregivers voluntarily participated in this study. The rates and levels of BPSD were assessed by interviewing staff with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH). Clinical interviews using the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) and Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) were conducted with residents to assess dementia severity.

Results: The mean NPI-NH total score for the sample was 28.5 (SD = 17.2) with no significant differences across the three facility types. Comparison of NPI-NH subscales showed residents from the ethno-specific Chinese facilities had lower rates of hallucinations than Shanghai residents (p = 0.003), but no differences from those in mainstream facilities. Shanghai residents had lower frequencies of disinhibition and irritability than ethno-specific Chinese residents (p = 0.003, p = 0.004 respectively), but no differences with mainstream residents.

Conclusion: The prevalence of BPSD does not differ among nursing home populations of different cultural backgrounds. Longitudinal community studies among different cultural groups would better elucidate the effects of culture on BPSD at different stages of dementia.

Keywords

cross-cultureBPSDChinesedementia
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , June 2009 , pp. 476 - 484
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2009

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