A Video-Based Intervention on and Evaluation of Nursing Aides' Therapeutic Communication and Residents' Agitation During Mealtime in a Dementia Care Unit. Issue 4 (1st October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Levy-Storms, Lené; Harris, Lesley M.; Chen, Xiao
• Is Part Of: Journal of nutrition in gerontology and geriatrics. Volume 35:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 281
• Publication Date: 2016-10-01
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease -- behavioral problems -- communication -- dementia -- non-pharmacological care -- nursing aides -- nursing home -- person-centered care; Older people -- Nutrition -- Periodicals; Dietetics -- Periodicals; 613.2084605
• DOI: 10.1080/21551197.2016.1238430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2155-1197

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The researchers conducted a communication training intervention for certified nursing assistants (CNAs). The intervention aimed at improving CNAs' therapeutic techniques for relating to agitated residents during care. This study focused on an in-depth evaluation of mealtime interactions using videos. Sixteen CNAs and 16 residents living with dementia from one long-term care facility were videotaped during mealtime interactions before and after a therapeutic communication training program. Mixed-effect Poisson regression revealed no effect of the intervention as a whole on residents' refusals, but the intervention did improve CNAs' communication. Additional analyses using specific CNAs' therapeutic communication behaviors indicated a significant negative association with refusals at post-test but not pretest. The findings suggest some communication mechanisms for how the intervention positively influenced residents' refusals.