Short summary

The study contributes to the body of knowledge in the area of hospitalization of patients with dementia, with a specific focus on staff use of psychosocial methods. The tension between the medicinally orientated focus and the needs associated with caring for patients with dementia is discussed in order to obtain an understanding of what is at stake for patients and staff.

This new knowledge is needed when improving hospital stays for patients with dementia.

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Rationale

Patients with a diagnosis of dementia are at risk of worsening their health and generally experience anxiety and insecurity during stay at hospitals. Similarly, studies have shown that working with patients with dementia is a challenge and a stress factor for staff in hospital wards.

In 2010, Denmark formulated a National Dementia Strategy with 14 recommendations, and two of the recommendations were; 1) an increased focus on the use of psychosocial methods in the care and treatment for people with dementia and 2) recommendations for a review of the health care legislation in order to authorize the use of force against dementia patients who resist treatment. Changes to the health care legislation has not been passed yet, so the project has focus on a topic lacking knowledge and actions in a national and in an international context.

The purpose is to investigate the conditions surrounding hospitalization of people with dementia to somatic wards, with special focus on ward culture, possibilities, activities, and the use of psychosocial methods during hospital stay.

Material from observational data and staff interviews will be interpreted in a phenomenological-hermeneutic perspective inspired by Ricoeur's interpretation theory.

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Description of the cohort

The studied is recruiting patients with dementia admitted to the somatic hospital and staff working on the wards where the patients are recruited from.

Data and biological material

The project will consist of 2 parts:

1. Participate observation data of patients with dementia during their stay at medical and surgical wards
2. Staff interviews about their experiences with demented patients.

Collaborating researchers and departments

OPEN Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital

Center for Ageing and Dementia (CFAD), VIA University

• PhD-student Anders Møller Jensen
• Rolf Bang Olsen, MD

Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

• Associate Professor Birthe D. Pedersen

OPEN Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital

• Professor Lise Hounsgaard