Dementia in residential care: education intervention trial (DIRECT); protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
There is scope to improve the quality of life (QOL) of people with dementia living in residential care facilities (RCF). The DIRECT study will determine if delivery of education to General Practitioners (GPs) and care staff improves the quality of life of residential care recipients with cognitive impairment.


METHODS
A prospective randomised controlled trial conducted in residential aged care facilities in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. Participants are care facility residents, aged 65 years and older and with mini-mental state examination scores less than 25. GPs and care facility staff have been independently randomised to intervention or control groups. An education programme, designed to meet the perceived needs of learners, will be delivered to GPs and care staff in the intervention groups. The primary outcome of the study will be quality of life of the people with dementia, measured using the QOL-Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QOL-AD) and Alzheimer Disease Related QOL Scale (ADRQL), 4 weeks and 6 months after the conclusion of the education intervention.


RESULTS
Recruitment of 351 people with dementia, cared for by staff in 39 residential facilities and 55 GPs, was undertaken between May 2007 and July 2008. Collection of baseline data is complete. Education has been delivered to GPs and Care staff between September 2008 and July 2009. Follow-up data collection is underway.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results will have tangible implications for proprietors, managers and staff from the residential care sector and policy makers. The results have potential to directly benefit the quality of life of both patients and carers.


BACKGROUND
These trial methods have been prospectively registered (ACTRN12607000417482).
Beer
Christopher D
CD
WA Centre for Health and Ageing, Centre for Medical Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia. Christopher.beer@uwa.edu.au
Horner
Barbara
B
Almeida
Osvaldo P
OP
Scherer
Samuel
S
Lautenschlager
Nicola T
NT
Bretland
Nick
N
Flett
Penelope
P
Schaper
Frank
F
Flicker
Leon
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D003071:Cognition; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000193:education*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D012114:Residential Treatment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014904:Western Australia; D000078329:Workforce