Online Program

327516
Effective communication in the context of dementia care: From patient-centered care to family-centered care


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Anne Stone, PhD, Department of Communicationr, Rollins College, Winter Park, FL
Jordan Neil, College of Journalism and Communications, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Background: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Traditionally, nurses have comprised the largest group of professionals to provide mental health care, and have long relied on close contact with patients’ families to supplement that care. With the number of Americans expected to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease projected to triple by 2050, it is critical to further understand how nurses combine formal education with effective methods of communication to provide both patient-centered and family-centered care.

Method: Data were collected from 32 individual, semi-structured interviews of nursing staff working in Alzheimer’s care facilities across the United States. Two trained coders employed constant comparative analysis to distinguish patterns and salient themes in the data.

Results: Findings highlighted both the diversity of care that nursing staff must provide, as well as the challenges they face to be perceived as credible authorities and deliver high-quality care successfully. Participants underlined the strain of maintaining effective patient-centered care, in addition to the complexity of garnering trust and providing expert advice to guide and care for family members.

Conclusion: This study has important implications for improved patient care. By better understanding the experiences and communication challenges nurses and care assistants must overcome, we can progress quality of life for people living with the disease, help to facilitate more effective decision making for families, reduce the risk of burnout for nursing staff, and contribute to training programs in this specialized area of nursing.

Learning Areas:

Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe the diversity of care nursing staff must provide and challenges faced by nursing staff associated with high-quality care in the context of dementia care. Suggest ways nursing staff may facilitate more effective decision-making for families and reduce their risk of burnout. Highlight content areas for training programs specifically designed for dementia care nurses.

Keyword(s): Dementia, Quality of Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked within health communication research for a number of years, however, during the past two years of my doctoral degree, I have developed a research expertise in dementia care communication. Additionally, the primary focus of my research centers on familial caregivers and their communication and care needs. I feel I am a qualified author and presenter of this study's findings.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.