6533b7d2fe1ef96bd125f3c6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

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subject

020205 medical informaticsCognitive Neuroscience02 engineering and technologymedicine.diseasePeer review03 medical and health sciencesPsychiatry and Mental health0302 clinical medicineMood0202 electrical engineering electronic engineering information engineeringmedicineDementiaNursing homesPsychology030217 neurology & neurosurgeryBiomedical sciencesClinical psychology

description

<b><i>Background:</i></b> A major and complex challenge when trying to support individuals with dementia is meeting the needs of those who experience changes in behaviour and mood. <b><i>Aim:</i></b> To explore how a sensor measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) impacts assistant nurses’ structured assessments of problematic behaviours amongst people with dementia and their choices of care interventions. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Fourteen individuals with dementia wore a sensor that measured EDA. The information from the sensor was presented to assistant nurses during structured assessments of problematic behaviours. The evaluation process included scorings with the instrument NPI-NH (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version), the care interventions suggested by assistant nurses to decrease problematic behaviours, and the assistant nurses’ experiences obtained by focus group interviews. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The information from the sensor measuring EDA was perceived to make behavioural patterns more visual and clear, which enhanced assistant nurses’ understanding of time-related patterns of behaviours. In turn, this enhancement facilitated timely care interventions to prevent the patterns and decrease the levels of problematic behaviour. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> With the addition of information from the sensor, nursing staff could target causes and triggers in a better way, making care interventions more specific and directed towards certain times throughout the day to prevent patterns of problematic behaviours.