British Medical Journal, 1.04.06, 2006, pp.756-758.
Publisher:
British Medical Association
... months, focusing on alternatives to drugs for the management of agitated behaviour in dementia. The main outcome measures were the proportion of residents in each home who were prescribed neuroleptics and mean levels of agitated and disruptive behaviour (Cohen-Mansfield agitation inventory) in each home at 12 months. At 12 months the proportion of residents taking neuroleptics in the intervention homes
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a training and support intervention for nursing home staff in reducing the proportion of residents with dementia who are prescribed neuroleptics. The research was carried out in 12 specialist nursing homes for people with dementia in London, Newcastle, and Oxford. Training and support interventions were delivered to nursing home staff over 10 months, focusing on alternatives to drugs for the management of agitated behaviour in dementia. The main outcome measures were the proportion of residents in each home who were prescribed neuroleptics and mean levels of agitated and disruptive behaviour (Cohen-Mansfield agitation inventory) in each home at 12 months. At 12 months the proportion of residents taking neuroleptics in the intervention homes (23.0%) was significantly lower than that in the control homes (42.1%): average reduction in neuroleptic use 19.1% (95% confidence interval 0.5% to 37.7%). No significant differences were found in the levels of agitated or disruptive behaviour between intervention and control homes. The authors conclude that the promotion of person centred care and good practice in the management of patients with dementia with behavioural symptoms provides an effective alternative to neuroleptics.