The goal of this study is to evaluate whether the Cognitive Model for Behavioral Interventions (CoMBI), a person-centered, non-pharmacological intervention, can reduce behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in people with dementia living in nursing homes. The study also aims to examine whether CoMBI can reduce caregiver burden and improve quality of life in people with dementia.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does CoMBI reduce the severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia compared to care as usual?
Does a reduction in BPSD lead to lower caregiver burden and improved quality of life for people with dementia?
Do personal factors, such as personality (dys)functioning, gender, level of cognitive impairment and stage of dementia, influence the effectiveness of CoMBI?
Researchers will compare CoMBI to care as usual to determine whether CoMBI leads to better outcomes for people with dementia and their caregivers.
Participants will:
Receive care in residential long-term care facilities where care staff are trained to apply CoMBI.
Be observed and assessed repeatedly over time as part of a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial design.
Being a resident in a participating nursing home
Having a formal diagnosis of neurocognitive disorder (NCD) accord-ing to DSM-5-TR (e.g. Alzheimer's disease, NCD with Lewy Bodies, Vascular NCD, …) or a medical record indicating probable dementia
Presence of one or more BPSD symptoms at moment of inclusion in the study (measured with the NPI-Q at baseline). Symptoms measured by the NPI-Q include delusions, hallucinations, agitation/aggression, depression/dysphoria, anxiety, euphoria/elated mood, apathy/indifference, disinhibition, irritability/lability, aberrant motor behavior, nighttime behavior disturbances/sleep disturbances, and changes in appetite and eating behavior.
Primary caregivers (i.e. nurses providing daily care) and patient's representative and/or a close relative/friend (i.e. informant who will fill in the premorbid personality questionnaire) are proficient in Dutch (i.e., are able to fill in the questionnaires)
None
Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Lead sponsor
Alexianen Zorggroep Tienen
Collaborator
vzw Bejaardenzorg Grauwzusters Limburg
Collaborator
Mondriaan
Collaborator