Palliative Care Intervention for Dementia Patients in Nursing Facilities
Author Information
Author(s): Oduro Elisha, Carpenter Joan, Hodgson Nancy, Hanson Laura, Zhu Shijun, Gurlu Merve, Ersek Mary
Primary Institution: University of Maryland Baltimore
Hypothesis
Can a primary palliative care intervention improve the quality of life for adults with dementia in skilled nursing facilities?
Conclusion
The primary palliative care intervention showed a trend of improvement in quality of life for dementia patients, although it was not statistically significant.
Supporting Evidence
- The intervention group showed a trend of improvement in quality of life scores.
- The control group did not show improvement in quality of life scores.
- The effect size of the intervention was -0.51.
Takeaway
This study tested a new type of care for older people with dementia in nursing homes, and it seemed to help them feel better, even if the results weren't strong enough to be sure.
Methodology
A pilot pragmatic clinical trial comparing a primary palliative care intervention to usual care in 9 skilled nursing facilities.
Limitations
The study had a small sample size and was not statistically significant.
Participant Demographics
Participants had a mean age of 84 years, were mostly White (94%) and female (72%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.2
Statistical Significance
p=0.20
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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