Advantages of different care services for reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms in dementia patients

• Published in: Psychogeriatrics 2018-07, Vol.18 (4), p.252-258
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Yukiko, Kazui, Hiroaki, Yoshiyama, Kenji, Azuma, Shingo, Kanemoto, Hideki, Sato, Shunsuke, Suehiro, Takashi, Ikeda, Manabu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Behavioral Symptoms - diagnosis; Behavioral Symptoms - epidemiology; Behavioral Symptoms - psychology; behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD); Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Dementia; Dementia - diagnosis; Dementia - epidemiology; Dementia - psychology; dementia care services; Dementia disorders; Emotional behavior; Female; Home health care; Humans; Japan - epidemiology; Long-Term Care - statistics & numerical data; Long‐term Care Insurance; Male; Mental depression; Mental Disorders - complications; Neuropsychiatric Inventory; Nursing Homes - statistics & numerical data; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; questionnaire; Questionnaires; Severity of Illness Index; treatment
• ISSN: 1346-3500; 1479-8301
• DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12317

Background It is assumed that care services effectively reduce behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). However, it is unclear which care services are effective for reducing specific BPSD. The aim of this study was to clarify which care services were recognized by care specialists as being effective for reducing each of 11 BPSD. Methods We sent unsigned questionnaires to care specialists in Japan. The questionnaires asked specialists to choose from 12 kinds of care services the most, second‐most, and third‐most effective service for reducing each of 11 BPSD. The most effective service was scored as 3 points, the second‐most was 2 points, and the third‐most was 1 point. Specialists were also asked to describe why they chose each service. The 12 kinds of care services were categorized into four categories: (i) home‐visit; (ii) outpatient; (iii) short‐stay; and (iv) facility. Total scores for each category were analyzed using a two‐way anova. The reasons care specialists chose each service were analyzed using morphological analysis, and representative reasons were extracted. Results A total of 103 questionnaires were returned. Of the four service categories, outpatient services yielded the highest score for reducing apathy (P