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A facilitated approach to family case conferencing for people with advanced dementia living in nursing homes: perceptions of palliative care planning coordinators and other health professionals in the IDEAL study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2017

Tim Luckett ,
Lynnette Chenoweth ,
Jane Phillips ,
Deborah Brooks ,
Janet Cook ,
Geoffrey Mitchell ,
Dimity Pond ,
Patricia M. Davidson ,
Elizabeth Beattie  and
Georgina Luscombe
...Show all authors
Tim Luckett*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
Lynnette Chenoweth
Affiliation:
Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Jane Phillips
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
Deborah Brooks
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, Queensland, Australia
Janet Cook
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
Geoffrey Mitchell
Affiliation:
School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Dimity Pond
Affiliation:
Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
Patricia M. Davidson
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Elizabeth Beattie
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Herston, Queensland, Australia
Georgina Luscombe
Affiliation:
Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
Stephen Goodall
Affiliation:
Centre for Health Research and Evaluation (CHERE), Faculty of Business, Haymarket, New South Wales, Australia
Thomas Fischer
Affiliation:
University of Applied Sciences, Pflegewissenschaft, Dresden, Germany
Meera Agar
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, New South Wales, Australia Improving Palliative Care through Clinical Trials (ImPaCCT), New South Wales, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Tim Luckett, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Level 7, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, NSW 2007 (PO Box 123), Sydney. Phone: +61 2 9514 4861. Email: tim.luckett@uts.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background:

Palliative care for nursing home residents with advanced dementia is often sub-optimal due to poor communication and limited care planning. In a cluster randomized controlled trial, registered nurses (RNs) from 10 nursing homes were trained and funded to work as Palliative Care Planning Coordinators (PCPCs) to organize family case conferences and mentor staff. This qualitative sub-study aimed to explore PCPC and health professional perceptions of the benefits of facilitated case conferencing and identify factors influencing implementation.

Method:

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the RNs in the PCPC role, other members of nursing home staff, and physicians who participated in case conferences. Analysis was conducted by two researchers using a thematic framework approach.

Results:

Interviews were conducted with 11 PCPCs, 18 other nurses, eight allied health workers, and three physicians. Perceived benefits of facilitated case conferencing included better communication between staff and families, greater multi-disciplinary involvement in case conferences and care planning, and improved staff attitudes and capabilities for dementia palliative care. Key factors influencing implementation included: staffing levels and time; support from management, staff and physicians; and positive family feedback.

Conclusion:

The facilitated approach explored in this study addressed known barriers to case conferencing. However, current business models in the sector make it difficult for case conferencing to receive the required levels of nursing qualification, training, and time. A collaborative nursing home culture and ongoing relationships with health professionals are also prerequisites for success. Further studies should document resident and family perceptions to harness consumer advocacy.

Keywords

dementiapalliative carenursing homesaged careinter-disciplinary
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 29 , Issue 10 , October 2017 , pp. 1713 - 1722
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

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