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McCarthy EP, Lopez RP, Hendricksen M, Mazor KM, Roach A, Rogers AH, Epps F, Johnson KS, Akunor H, Mitchell SL. Black and white proxy experiences and perceptions that influence advanced dementia care in nursing homes: The ADVANCE study. J Am Geriatr Soc 2023; 71:1759-1772. [PMID: 36856071 PMCID: PMC10258152 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regional, facility, and racial variability in intensity of care provided to nursing home (NH) residents with advanced dementia is poorly understood. MATERIALS AND METHODS Assessment of Disparities and Variation for Alzheimer's disease NH Care at End of life (ADVANCE) is a multisite qualitative study of 14 NHs from four hospital referral regions providing varied intensity of advanced dementia care based on tube-feeding and hospital transfer rates. This report explored the perceptions and experiences of Black and White proxies (N = 44) of residents with advanced dementia to elucidate factors driving these variations. Framework analyses revealed themes and subthemes within the following a priori domains: understanding of advanced dementia and care decisions, preferences related to end-of-life care, advance care planning, decision-making about managing feeding problems and acute illness, communication and trust in NH providers, support, and spirituality in decision-making. Matrix analyses explored similarities/differences by proxy race. Data were collected from June 1, 2018 to July 31, 2021. RESULTS Among 44 proxies interviewed, 19 (43.1%) were Black, 36 (81.8%) were female, and 26 (59.0%) were adult children of residents. In facilities with the lowest intensity of care, Black and White proxies consistently reported having had previous conversations with residents about wishes for end-of-life care and generally better communication with providers. Black proxies held numerous misconceptions about the clinical course of advanced dementia and effectiveness of treatment options, notably tube-feeding and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Black and White proxies described mistrust of NH staff but did so towards different staffing roles. Religious and spiritual beliefs commonly thought to underlie preferences for more intense care among Black residents, were rarely, but equally mentioned by race. CONCLUSIONS This report refuted commonly held assumptions about religiosity and spirituality as drivers of racial variations in advanced dementia care and revealed several actionable facility-level factors, which may help reduce these variations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen P McCarthy
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ruth Palan Lopez
- School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Meghan Hendricksen
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kathleen M Mazor
- Meyers Primary Care Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ashley Roach
- School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Anita Hendrix Rogers
- Department of Nursing, The University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee, USA
| | - Fayron Epps
- Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kimberly S Johnson
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center, Veteran Affairs Medicine Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Harriet Akunor
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan L Mitchell
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Gonella S, Di Giulio P, Berchialla P, Bo M, Cotogni P, Macchi G, Campagna S, Dimonte V. The Impact of Health and Social Care Professionals' Education on the Quality of Serious Illness Conversations in Nursing Homes: Study Protocol of a Quality Improvement Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:725. [PMID: 36613049 PMCID: PMC9819581 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Health and social care professionals (HCPs) who work in nursing homes (NHs) are increasingly required to sustain serious illness conversations about care goals and preferences. Although these conversations may also be challenging for experienced HCPs and the literature recognizes high-quality communication as key to providing patient-centered care, so far, no specific educational program has been developed for the NH setting to improve HCPs' communication skills. Our study aims to test the feasibility and potential effectiveness of an innovative, blended communication skills training program (Teach-to-Communicate) targeting the HCPs who work in NHs. This program includes classroom-based theory, experiential learning, and e-learning, and relies on interdisciplinary contexts and several didactic methods. The study consists of two phases: phase I is the development of written resources that employ focus group discussion involving field experts and external feedback from key stakeholders. Phase II consists of a multicenter, pilot, pre-post study with nested qualitative study. The Teach-to-Communicate training program is expected to enhance the quality of communication in NH and HCPs' confidence in sustaining serious illness conversations, reduce family carers' psycho-emotional burden and improve their satisfaction with the care received, and increase advance care planning documentation. Our protocol will provide insight for future researchers, healthcare providers, and policymakers and pave the way for blended educational approaches in the field of communication skills training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gonella
- Direction of Health Professions, City of Health and Science University Hospital of Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Di Giulio
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Paola Berchialla
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Mario Bo
- Section of Geriatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, City of Health and Science University Hospital of Turin, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Paolo Cotogni
- Pain Management and Palliative Care, Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, University of Torino, City of Health and Science University Hospital of Turin, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Giorgia Macchi
- Pain Management and Palliative Care, Department of Anesthesia, Intensive Care and Emergency, University of Torino, City of Health and Science University Hospital of Turin, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Sara Campagna
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Valerio Dimonte
- Direction of Health Professions, City of Health and Science University Hospital of Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Turin, Italy
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Hendricksen M, Mitchell SL, Palan Lopez R, Roach A, Hendrix Rogers A, Akunor H, McCarthy EP. ADVANCE-C: A Qualitative Study of Experiences Caring for Nursing Home Residents with Advanced Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2022; 77:1938-1946. [PMID: 35803591 PMCID: PMC9278215 DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbac093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Assessment of Disparities and Variation for Alzheimer's disease Nursing home Care at End of life (ADVANCE) is a multisite qualitative study of regionally diverse Nursing homes (NHs; N = 14) providing varied intensity of advanced dementia care. ADVANCE-C explored the experiences of NH staff and proxies during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS Data collection occurred in five of the ADVANCE facilities located in Georgia (N = 3) and New York (N = 2). Semistructured qualitative interviews with NH staff (N = 38) and proxies of advanced dementia residents (N = 7) were conducted. Framework analyses explored five staff domains: care processes, decision making, organizational resources, vaccinations, and personal experience, and five proxy domains: connecting with residents, NH response, communicating with NH, decision making, and personal impact of the pandemic. RESULTS Staff mentioned difficulties implementing infection control policies specifically for advanced dementia residents. Staff reported trust between the facility and proxies as critical in making decisions during the pandemic. All staff participants spoke about "coming together" to address persistent staffing shortages. Proxies described their role as an "emotional rollercoaster," emphasizing how hard it was being separate from their loved ones. The accommodations made for NH residents were not beneficial for those with advanced dementia. The majority of proxies felt NH staff were doing their best and expressed deep appreciation for their care. DISCUSSION Caring for advanced dementia residents during the COVID-19 pandemic had unique challenges for both staff and proxies. Strategies for similar future crises should strive to balance best practices to contain the virus while maintaining family connections and person-centered care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Hendricksen
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Susan L Mitchell
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ruth Palan Lopez
- School of Nursing, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ashley Roach
- School of Nursing, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Anita Hendrix Rogers
- Department of Nursing, The University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, Tennessee, USA
| | - Harriet Akunor
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ellen P McCarthy
- Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Hebrew SeniorLife, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Gerontology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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