Improving the acute hospital care experience from admission through to discharge for older patients with cognitive impairment and their carers / families.

Award Number
CAT CL-2013-04-011
Award Type
NIHR/HEE CAT Clinical Lectureship
Programme
HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Programme
Status / Stage
Completed
Dates
2 April 2014 -
31 January 2019
Duration (calculated)
04 years 09 months
Funder(s)
NIHR
Funding Amount
£143,603.82
Funder/Grant study page
NIHR
Contracted Centre
The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Contracted Centre Webpage
Principal Investigator
Dr Clare Abley
PI Contact
clare.abley@nuth.nhs.uk
PI ORCID
0000-0002-8391-5657
WHO Catergories
Models across the continuum of care
Tools and methodologies for interventions
Disease Type
Dementia (Unspecified)

CPEC Review Info
Reference ID142
ResearcherReside Team
Published12/06/2023

Data

Award NumberCAT CL-2013-04-011
Status / StageCompleted
Start Date20140402
End Date20190131
Duration (calculated) 04 years 09 months
Funder/Grant study pageNIHR
Contracted CentreThe Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Contracted Centre Webpage
Funding Amount£143,603.82

Abstract

Out of all older people in general hospitals, approximately 31% will have dementia and 20% will have delirium. Despite the number of older people in hospitals with cognitive impairment, little research has focused on their care and none has considered patient and carer perspectives across the whole of the pathway from admission through to discharge. A number of initiatives have taken place in recent years in response to the National Dementia Care Strategy and the National Audit of Dementia Care in General Hospitals, all with the aim of improving hospital dementia care e.g. the RCN SPACE Principles Framework, Royal College of Psychiatrists Charter Mark, however no comprehensive toolkit for Trusts exists, to enable and support staff to ensure the best possible care experience for older patients with cognitive impairment across the whole of the general hospital care pathway. What factors contribute to a positive patient experience and also a negative experience for older people with cognitive impairment (dementia and/or delirium) admitted to acute hospitals? What factors contribute to positive and negative carer/family experiences during this time? How can staff be enabled and supported to ensure the best possible care experience for older patients with cognitive impairment and their carers/families throughout the patient pathway? Plan of investigation: There will be three separate but linked work streams (WS1-WS3), following MRC Guidance on the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions: WS1: Systematic and policy review of best practice in the care of older people with cognitive impairment (in acute hospitals and also other settings such as care homes) WS2: Qualitative social constructionist study in a local NHS acute Trust, using case study methodology, to determine the factors that contribute to a positive patient experience and also a negative experience for older people with cognitive impairment and their carers/families WS3: Development, piloting and service evaluation of a toolkit for use by Trusts to ensure the best possible experience for older patients with cognitive impairment and their carers/families. Robust and effective collaboration with two bespoke involvement groups (Consumer Reference Group and Expert Reference Group) will be an integral part of the research throughout all three workstreams. Summary of potential benefits to patients and NHS: The main benefit of this research will be the development of a toolkit which will enable and support staff in NHS general hospital Trusts, at all levels, to provide the best possible care for older patients with cognitive impairment and their carers/families. This will be based on a systematic review of the literature, the findings of a qualitative study incorporating patient, carer/family and staff perspectives and will be informed by robust and effective involvement of a local consumer reference group and a national expert reference group. The research will also provide novel, empirical, in depth research on the experiences of people with dementia in acute hospitals to complement the recent National Audit of Dementia in General Hospitals, the latter taking a quantitative approach.

Aims

The aim of this research is to improve the care experience of older patients with cognitive impairment and their carers / families, whilst in acute hospitals by developing a toolkit for Trusts.