A mixed methods exploration into the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia in care homes: care approaches, strategies and psychotropic medications

摘要: The management of behavioural and psychological symptoms dementia (BPSD) has gained media policy attention recently. Antipsychotic medications have been used for these behaviours. Due to the potential risks associated with Department Health in England called a reduction their use people dementia. Non-pharmacological interventions recommended as safer alternatives. aim this study was explore strategies care homes manage dementia. The mixed methods, sequential, two phase design. A postal survey 747 conducted. response rate 40% (n=299). This directed purposive sampling four in-depth case studies homes, which included: interviews 40 home staff, 384 hours participant observations, mapping 22 residents’ psychotropic medication administration records. Multiple implicit explicit strategies, non-pharmacological interventions, were concurrently homes. Twelve percent residents reported be prescribed at least one antipsychotic medication. Formal predominantly used, viewed, by staff activities all not targeted impacts behaviours posed challenges staff. Person-centred difficult provide consistently. This thesis provides an important examination that workers adopted, developed implemented findings portray gap between rhetoric practice, (some questionable) perceived usual approaches employed more than formal interventions. theoretical contribution is made problematising delivery person-centred communal settings where must constantly negotiate competing demands, organisational constraints.