title: Caring for people with dementia and challenging behaviors in nursing homes: A needs assessment geriatric nursing.
abstract: An estimated 50% of nursing home residents have a dementia diagnosis. The purpose of this research was to conduct a needs assessment of directors of nursing (DON) in Iowa nursing homes in relation to caring for patients with Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia. DON responses were linked to Online Survey Certification and Reporting/Certification and Survey Provider Enhanced Reporting (OSCAR/CASPER) data to examine how facility characteristics may be associated with use of and confidence in non-drug management strategies. From 431 questionnaires mailed to DONs, 160 (37%) were returned. Regression analysis showed that those who were more confident in managing challenging behavior were more likely to have satisfaction with current training on managing challenging behaviors and had a psychiatrist available to visit the facility. Facilities with a larger proportion of patients with challenging behaviors being treated with non-drug approaches instead of antipsychotics had DONs who were more likely to be confident in non-drug management strategies and have knowledge about the FDA antipsychotic medications risks.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA. Electronic address: jeanette-daly@uiowa.edu.
authors: Jeanette M
authors: JM
authors: Daly
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors: Camden P
authors: CP
authors: Bay
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA; Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors: Barcey T
authors: BT
authors: Levy
authors: Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors: Ryan M
authors: RM
authors: Carnahan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002568:Certification; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Antipsychotic medication; Challenging behaviors; Dementia; Director of nursing; Nursing home