title: Study protocol: the behaviour and pain in dementia study (BePAID).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  People with dementia admitted to the acute hospital often receive poor quality care particularly with regards to management of behavioural and psychiatric symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and of pain. There have been no UK studies on the prevalence and type of pain or BPSD in people with dementia in this setting, or on how these may impact on patients, carers, staff and costs of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We shall recruit older people with dementia who have unplanned acute medical admissions and measure the prevalence of BPSD using the Behave-AD (Behaviour in Alzheimer's Disease) and the CMAI (Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory). Pain prevalence and severity will be assessed by the PAINAD (Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia) and the FACES pain scale. We will then analyse how these impact on a variety of outcomes and test the hypothesis that poor management of pain is associated with worsening of BPSD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By demonstrating the costs of BPSD to individuals with dementia and the health service this study will provide important evidence to drive improvements in care. We can then develop effective training for acute hospital staff and alternative treatment strategies for BPSD in this setting.
authors: Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Unit, UCL Mental Health Sciences Unit University College Medical School, London, W1W 7EJ, UK.
authors: Sharon
authors: S
authors: Scott
authors: Louise
authors: L
authors: Jones
authors: Martin R
authors: MR
authors: Blanchard
authors: Elizabeth L
authors: EL
authors: Sampson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic / Q000379:methods; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D018579:Patient Selection; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales