Long term care staff beliefs about evidence based practices for the management of dementia and agitation.
BACKGROUND
Despite a growing literature on effective interventions for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and agitation, the management of these conditions in long term care (LTC) often is inadequate. The goals of the present study were: (a) to evaluate existing beliefs about evidence based practices (EBP) for the management of Alzheimer's disease and agitation among LTC staff; and (b) to evaluate the contribution of demographic and attitudinal variables to LTC staff beliefs about these EBP.


METHODS
A cross sectional study of 371 LTC staff members completed an EBP questionnaire, a short demographic questionnaire, and an attitudinal questionnaire about AD and agitation.


RESULTS
Paraprofessional caregivers, those of lower educational level, and ethnic minorities were more likely to be in disagreement with the EBP views examined in this study. Those in disagreement with the EBP views also reported a preference towards not working with residents with AD and agitation and a sense of helplessness associated with such work. Disagreement with EBP views was associated with both normalization and stigmatization of AD and agitation.


CONCLUSIONS
Paraprofessional caregivers, ethnic minorities, and people of lower educational level are most at need for educational activities about AD and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Educational efforts geared towards changing the belief system of LTC staff should target not only EBP but also information about AD and agitation as conditions that are deviant from the normal aging process, yet non-stigmatizing. It is expected that following EBP will empower staff and improve staff motivation to work with residents with AD and agitation.
Ayalon
Liat
L
Bar Ilan University, School of Social Work, Ramat Gan, Israel. ayalonl@mail.biu.ac.il
Arean
Patricia
P
Bornfeld
Heather
H
Beard
Renee
R
D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires