Pilot Testing an Educational Intervention to Improve Communication With Patients With Dementia

In Brief Approximately one quarter of all hospitalized patients over age 75 years have a secondary diagnosis of dementia. A unique hospital-wide program to encourage appropriate communication techniques with patients who have dementia was provided to all departments of a hospital. Evaluation indicated improvement in some communication techniques. Additional education is needed to disperse the information to as many staff as possible and to sustain the change. These authors present a pilot test of a hospital-wide program to encourage appropriate communication with patients with dementia. Results of the study indicated improvement in some communication techniques.