MedPath

Comprehensive Care Transition: A Trial of an Enhanced Care Transition Process in Dementia

Not Applicable
Terminated
Conditions
Dementia
BPSD
Interventions
Behavioral: Enhanced care transition
Behavioral: Standard care transition
Registration Number
NCT02415504
Lead Sponsor
Baycrest
Brief Summary

This pilot study examines the impact of an enhanced care transition process vs. usual care for persons with dementia admitted to a transitional unit (hospital or LTC) for management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) with a planned discharge to long term care (LTC) facilities or other hospital units. Deficiencies in discharge processes can contribute to poor outcomes (e.g., readmissions), and there is a dearth of research on how to improve care transitions for persons with BPSD. The investigators aim to improve the care transition process for persons with dementia and BPSD utilizing an enhanced care transition process that will contain up to 6 elements: integrated behavioural care plans, videos, patient specific briefcase containing activities to reduce BPSD, in-person care transition meeting, in-person care demonstration (when possible), and follow up visits with a transition team. The ability to determine the effect of enhanced care transitions on the clinical course of patients with planned discharge to LTC or hospital may allow for improved outcomes and an overall increased efficiency of post discharge care.

Detailed Description

The investigators have formulated an enhanced care transition process based on factors that have been documented to support care transitions in other clinical populations (e.g., Coleman, 2003 on persons with continuous complex needs; Viggiano, et al., 2012 on persons with mental health issues), along with novel package elements based on the investigators' experience working with persons with dementia and BPSD. The investigators propose to conduct a preliminary analysis of patient and staff outcomes comparing an enhanced care transition process with a control group receiving usual care. The investigators' proposed enhanced care transition process will contain 5 elements: 1. Unified transfer care document adapted to the post-care transition location 2. Videos of BPSD management to better communicate care provision, 3. Provision to -the post-care transition location a patient specific briefcase containing activities that help to reduce BPSD, 4. In-person care transition meeting between sites, including the family, to transfer knowledge, 5. In person care demonstration (when possible), and 6. Follow-up visits post transition with a transition team (a service already in existence but not consistently used). The investigators hope that with improved communication, discharge locations will be better equipped to manage BPSD, and reduce the likelihood of adverse events for both patients and staff.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
TERMINATED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
29
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients on behavioural transitional support unit's at Baycrest (Behavioural Neurology Unit, transitional Behavioural Support Unit) who are admitted for behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD)
  • Diagnosed with a degenerative dementia
  • Over 55 years old at the time of discharge, with a planned discharge to a long-term care (LTC) facility or another hospital unit will be eligible for the study
Exclusion Criteria
  • None

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Enhanced care transitionEnhanced care transitionThe enhanced care transition will offer: (1) an integrated behavioural care plan, (2) an in- person discharge meeting including family, post-care transition staff (LTC or another hospital unit) and unit staff, (3) videos of responsive behaviours and non-pharmacological interventions, (4) a briefcase of favoured activities, (5) an in-person care demonstration, and (6) involvement of a transitional care team.
Standard care transitionStandard care transitionThe standard care transition varies by unit, and either consists of: (1) a discipline specific care plan, (2) a phone discharge meeting between unit staff and post-care transition staff (LTC or another hospital unit) and (3) a follow-up phone call with social work OR (1) a discipline specific care plan, (2) an in-person meeting between unit staff and (family) caregivers, (3) involvement of a transitional care team, and (4) a follow-up phone call with social work.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Post-Care Transition (PCT) questionnaireChange in resident's baseline behaviour(s) at 2 and 4 weeks

Likert scales and open-ended questions measuring change in the transitioned resident's identified behaviour(s).

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) satisfaction questionnaireChange from baseline at 2 weeks

Likert scales and open-ended questions measuring the SDM's satisfaction with resident's transition.

Social work assessment questionnaireAt 6 months after baseline

Likert scales and open-ended questions evaluating the transition process and the post-care transition location.

Substitute Decision Maker (SDM) questionnaireChange in resident's baseline behaviour(s) at 2 and 4 weeks

Likert scales and open-ended questions measuring the SDM's perception of change in the transitioned resident's identified behaviour(s).

Post-Care Transition (PCT) questionnaireChange in resident's baseline behaviour(s) at 3 and 6 months

Likert scales and open-ended questions measuring change in the transitioned resident's identified behaviour(s).

Post-Care Transition (PCT) staff satisfaction questionnaireChange from baseline at 2 and 4 weeks

Likert scales and open-ended questions evaluating staff satisfaction with the resident's transition process.

Chart reviewAt baseline

Resident's additional dependent data collection (e.g., demographics, identified behaviours, Cohen Mansfield Agitation Inventory score, etc.)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Baycrest

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath