Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether a short training focused on improving dementia care practices of the hospital staff was able to counteract functional loss and to decrease negative outcomes at discharge among hospitalized older adults with cognitive impairment.

Method: Sixty-eight hospitalized participants aged 65 and over with cognitive impairment were included in the study, allocated in the control group (n = 34) and intervention group (n = 34). The intervention consisted of a short training of the hospital staff aimed at improving the management of patients with cognitive impairment. Participants were evaluated within 48 h of hospital admission and at discharge using a battery of tests including Barthel Index, Mini-Mental State Examination, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Results: The intervention group demonstrated shorter hospital length of stay and a maintenance of the functional status at discharge compared to the control group. We observed no differences in cognitive ability between the two groups, and a trend towards a decrease of anxious symptoms in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Conclusion: The results suggest that an intervention, focused on improving dementia care practices in healthcare staff, has the potential to improve the outcomes for hospitalized older adults with cognitive impairment.

摘要

目的：评估以改善医院工作人员的痴呆护理实践为重点的短期培训是否能够抵消功能丧失并减少住院老年认知障碍患者出院时的负面结果。

方法： 68 名 65 岁及以上的认知障碍住院参与者被纳入研究，分为对照组（n = 34）和干预组（n = 34）。干预措施包括对医院工作人员的短期培训，旨在改善对认知障碍患者的管理。参与者在入院 48 小时内和出院时使用一系列测试进行评估，包括 Barthel 指数、简易精神状态检查和医院焦虑和抑郁量表。

结果：与对照组相比，干预组的住院时间更短，出院时的功能状态得以维持。我们观察到两组之间的认知能力没有差异，并且与对照组相比，干预组的焦虑症状有减少的趋势。

结论：结果表明，专注于改善医护人员痴呆症护理实践的干预措施有可能改善住院老年认知障碍患者的预后。