%0 Journal Article
%T Reducing Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Acutely Ill Patients via Patient Engagement Specialists: A Pilot Feasibility Study.
%A Sinvani L
%A Strunk A
%A Ardito S
%A Gordon S
%A Liu Y
%A Schantz E
%A Arroon A
%A Ilyas A
%A Gromova V
%A Polokowski A
%A Levin J
%A Makhnevich A
%A D'Angelo S
%A Boltz M
%J Gerontol Geriatr Med
%V 9
%N 0
%D 2023 Jan-Dec
%M 37601321
暂无%R 10.1177/23337214231192162
%X Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are common in hospitalized persons living with dementia (PLWD). This pilot aimed to test the feasibility of an innovative model of care, PES-4-BPSD (a dementia unit staffed with Patient Engagement Specialists, PES). Non-randomized pilot feasibility trial was conducted, enrolling N = 158 patients to the intervention unit (n = 79, a 10-bed dementia unit, staffed with nursing assistants, NAs, with mental health backgrounds, PES) and an enhanced control unit (n = 79, 40-bed medicine unit, staffed with NAs). All NAs/PES (N = 63) received dementia training, with completion rate of 82.5%. Overall, patients had ~1 NPI-Q (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire) assessment/48 hr. 97% (n = 153) of PLWD exhibited at least one behavior. Average NPI-Q scores did not differ across intervention (5.36) and control (3.87) units (p = .23). Patients on the intervention unit had 88% (p = .002) shorter duration of constant observation. A dementia care unit staffed by PES is an innovative model requiring further research.