Care in specialist medical and mental health unit compared with standard care for older people with cognitive impairment admitted to general hospital : randomised controlled trial (NIHR TEAM trial)

GOLDBERG, S. E., BRADSHAW, L. E., KEARNEY, F. C., RUSSELL, C., WHITTAMORE, K. H., FOSTER, P. E. R., MAMZA, J., GLADMAN, J. R. F., JONES, R. G., LEWIS, S. A., POROCK, Davina and HARWOOD, R. H. (2013). Care in specialist medical and mental health unit compared with standard care for older people with cognitive impairment admitted to general hospital : randomised controlled trial (NIHR TEAM trial). BMJ, 347 (jul02), f4132-f4132.

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Official URL: http://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f4132
Link to published version:: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f4132

Abstract

Objective: To develop and evaluate a best practice model of general hospital acute medical care for older people with cognitive impairment. Design: Randomised controlled trial, adapted to take account of constraints imposed by a busy acute medical admission system. Setting: Large acute general hospital in the United Kingdom. Participants: 600 patients aged over 65 admitted for acute medical care, identified as “confused” on admission. Interventions: Participants were randomised to a specialist medical and mental health unit, designed to deliver best practice care for people with delirium or dementia, or to standard care (acute geriatric or general medical wards). Features of the specialist unit included joint staffing by medical and mental health professionals; enhanced staff training in delirium, dementia, and person centred dementia care; provision of organised purposeful activity; environmental modification to meet the needs of those with cognitive impairment; delirium prevention; and a proactive and inclusive approach to family carers. Main outcome measures: Primary outcome: number of days spent at home over the 90 days after randomisation. Secondary outcomes: structured non-participant observations to ascertain patients’ experiences; satisfaction of family carers with hospital care. When possible, outcome assessment was blind to allocation. Results: There was no significant difference in days spent at home between the specialist unit and standard care groups (median 51 v 45 days, 95% confidence interval for difference −12 to 24; P=0.3). Median index hospital stay was 11 versus 11 days, mortality 22% versus 25% (−9% to 4%), readmission 32% versus 35% (−10% to 5%), and new admission to care home 20% versus 28% (−16% to 0) for the specialist unit and standard care groups, respectively. Patients returning home spent a median of 70.5 versus 71.0 days at home (−6.0 to 6.5). Patients on the specialist unit spent significantly more time with positive mood or engagement (79% v 68%, 2% to 20%; P=0.03) and experienced more staff interactions that met emotional and psychological needs (median 4 v 1 per observation; P<0.001). More family carers were satisfied with care (overall 91% v 83%, 2% to 15%; P=0.004), and severe dissatisfaction was reduced (5% v 10%, −10% to 0%; P=0.05). Conclusions: Specialist care for people with delirium and dementia improved the experience of patients and satisfaction of carers, but there were no convincing benefits in health status or service use. Patients’ experience and carers’ satisfaction might be more appropriate measures of success for frail older people approaching the end of life. Trial registration Clinical Trials NCT01136148

Item Type: Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Centre for Health and Social Care Research
Departments - Does NOT include content added after October 2018: Health and Well-being > Department of Nursing and Midwifery
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f4132
Page Range: f4132-f4132
Depositing User: Davina Porock
Date Deposited: 26 Apr 2017 11:14
Last Modified: 18 Mar 2021 22:00
URI: https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/15181

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