Associations between the working characteristics of nursing staff and the prevalence of behavioral symptoms in people with dementia in residential care
Overview
This Swedish study of 40 residential dementia care units found that nursing staff job strain and caring climate significantly correlate with behavioral symptoms in residents. Higher staff stress was associated with more disruptive behaviors, while positive caring environments reduced wandering, restlessness, and escape behaviors among dementia patients.
Individual authors
Primary Authors:
- David Edvardsson - Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Sweden & Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care, La Trobe University, Australia
- P. O. Sandman - Department of Nursing, Umeå University, Sweden
- Rhonda Nay - Australian Centre for Evidence-Based Aged Care, La Trobe University, Australia
- Stig Karlsson - Department of Community Medicine and Rehabilitation, Geriatric Medicine, Umeå University, Sweden
Key insights
Key Insights:
- High staff job strain increases verbally disruptive behaviours in dementia residents
- Positive caring climate reduces wandering, restlessness, and escape behaviours significantly
- 92.2% of dementia residents exhibited some behavioural symptoms weekly
- Staff knowledge levels showed no correlation with resident behavioural symptoms
- Younger, less experienced staff reported higher job strain levels
- Residents in high-strain units had lower functional abilities overall
- Opportunities for ethical discussions at work reduced staff strain
- Staff well-being directly influences resident well-being in dementia care
Did this resource draw on transformative evidence?
No, this document was not based on experiential expertise. It was a quantitative research study using validated assessment scales (job strain assessment and Multi Dimensional Dementia Assessment Scale) across 40 care units with 346 staff and 344 residents, employing statistical analysis rather than experiential knowledge.
The study was motivated by "clinical experience" and "anecdotal experiences" suggesting staff well-being affects resident outcomes, but the research itself used empirical data and statistical analysis rather than practice wisdom. It aimed to scientifically test what practitioners already suspected from their experience.
This document was based on systematic research using validated assessment scales, statistical analysis of data from 40 care units, and evaluation of associations between staff work characteristics and resident behavioral symptoms. It employed rigorous empirical methods including Mann-Whitney U-tests and cross-sectional analysis.
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Evidence Summary
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