Improving pain management for patients with dementia in acute care

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  How can pain management be improved for the person living with dementia as they progress through acute care settings?

• IRAS ID

  235521

• Contact name

  Vivien VC Coates

• Contact email

  ve.coates@ulster.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Ulster University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  Background

  Globally it is estimated that over 46.8 million people are living with dementia and these figures are set to triple by 2050 (Prince et al. 2015). Within acute care we are beginning to see more people presenting with this condition and managing their pain remains a challenge for health care staff (Achterberg et al. 2013; Husebo et al. 2016; Johnson & Karlawish 2015).

  Design

  A participatory action research (PAR) approach will be used as the underpinning methodology for this study. Two case studies involving;
  1. the observation of pain management for two patients living with dementia, from their admission to the Emergency Department to their transfer to either the Acute Medical Unit or the Surgical Ward.
  2. Audio recorded semi-structured interviews with the following;
  • two patients (where possible)
  • one member of each patient’s family or carer
  • six members of staff who have worked with the patients
  3. Nursing and Medical notes belonging to the two patients will be reviewed in relation to their pain management.

  Following completion of the case studies and preliminary analysis of findings, staff from the three areas will be invited to participate in audio recorded focus groups within their areas. There will be a maximum of three focus groups in each area with the total being nine focus groups.

  Aims

  To improve pain management practice for the person living with dementia who is admitted into the acute care setting.

  Objectives

  1. Through literature review identify interventions and processes that have been found to lead to successful pain management.
  2. Engage with staff within a hospital setting through case studies and focus groups, facilitating them to critically analyse the barriers and enablers to current
  pain management practices.
  3. Following the focus groups implement and evaluate a programme of development that enables the healthcare team to adopt a consistent
  approach to pain management from admission to discharge.

• REC name

  HSC REC A

• REC reference

  18/NI/0089

• Date of REC Opinion

  3 Jul 2018

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion