title: Case conferences as interventions dealing with the challenging behavior of people with dementia in nursing homes: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Challenging behaviors such as aggression, screaming, and apathy are often encountered when caring for people with dementia in nursing homes. In this context, a case conference is often recommended for healthcare professionals as an effective instrument to improve the quality of care. However, the subject case conference has not had great consideration in scientific literature. The aim of this review is to describe the effects of case conferences on people with dementia and challenging behavior and the staff in nursing homes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of intervention studies in nursing homes in the German or English language was performed in the following databases: Medline, Cinahl, PsycINFO, Cochrane library, Embase, and Google Scholar. The selection and the methodological quality of the studies were assessed independently by two authors. The results were summarized and compared based on categories such as study quality or outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven of 432 studies were included in the review. A total of four of seven studies showed a reduction in the challenging behavior of people with dementia, and five showed an influence on the competence, attitudes, and job satisfaction of the staff. However, due to the middle-range quality of several studies, the methodological heterogeneity and differences in the interventions, the results must be interpreted with caution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, little evidence exists for the positive effects of case conferences in the care of people with dementia. This review highlights the need for methodologically well-designed intervention studies to provide conclusive evidence of the effects of case conferences.
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Witten, Germany. sven.reuther@dzne.de
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reuther
authors.forename: Martin Nikolaus
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Dichter
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Buscher
authors.forename: Horst Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Vollmar
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Holle
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bartholomeyczik
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Halek
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D011580:Psychological Techniques; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012944:Social Support; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods; D000078329:Workforce