Facilitating Staff Education to Improve the Management of Behavioral Disturbances in Dementia Patients

Date of Conferral

10-25-2023

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Mattie Burton

Abstract

Dementia is a condition that affects millions of seniors, many of whom also experience behavioral disturbances (BDs) that are disruptive and time-consuming to manage. Unfortunately, antipsychotics have been used to manage BDs without consideration of their side effects and safer alternatives. In 2022, it was found that a group of nurse practitioners (NPs) working within a Medicare Advantage Institutional Special Needs Plan in southern California furnished antipsychotics to an average of 29% of patients with dementia. The practice-focused question for this doctoral project was whether staff education can improve NPs’ knowledge of alternative interventions to antipsychotics in managing BDs in patients with dementia. Staff education was created with a multidisciplinary team using Knowles’s adult learning theory framework. To assess pre- and post-knowledge as well as satisfaction with learning, Kirkpatrick’s evaluation model was utilized. The data revealed a 29% improvement in knowledge of managing dementia with BDs. In addition, the NPs found the presentation to be effective, interactive, easy to understand, and relevant and essential to their practice. The project findings imply that effective staff education developed using evidence-based practice (EBP) can improve clinical knowledge and patient outcomes. Additionally, the framework can be used to create education about other health topics where knowledge gaps are identified. Ultimately, nurses can be leaders in furthering healthcare, addressing health disparities, and improving patient outcomes and quality of life through continued education on EBP supported by their peers and organizations.

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