792 Participants Needed

Palliative Care Training for Dementia

(PCEAL-DCP Trial)

DD
Overseen ByDebra Dobbs, PhD
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: University of South Florida
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Is palliative care training for dementia safe for humans?

The research does not provide specific safety data for palliative care training for dementia, but it focuses on improving care quality through education and training for healthcare professionals.12

How does Palliative Care Training differ from other treatments for dementia?

Palliative Care Training for dementia is unique because it focuses on educating caregivers and healthcare providers to improve the quality of life for people with dementia, rather than directly treating the disease itself. This approach emphasizes non-drug strategies and early integration of palliative care principles, which is different from traditional treatments that often focus on managing symptoms with medication.13456

What is the purpose of this trial?

The palliative care education in assisted living for dementia care providers (PCEAL-DCP) is a 4-week intervention (once a week for 1.5 hours, a total of 6 hours) for licensed nurses, administrators and dementia care coordinators to improve quality of dementia care outcomes

Research Team

DD

Debra Dobbs, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of South Florida

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for licensed nurses, administrators, and dementia care coordinators working in assisted living facilities. It aims to enhance their skills in providing palliative care specifically tailored for individuals with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

Inclusion Criteria

I am the legal guardian, understand English, and am over 21.
AL community eligibility criteria include a minimum of 40+ beds and provide memory care services to at least 35% of their residents, and access to hospice services from Lifepath or Suncoast Hospice
I have been diagnosed with dementia, recently moved into assisted living, and have a legal representative who speaks English.

Exclusion Criteria

Staff who are not licensed nurses, administrators, or dementia care coordinators of a dementia care unit, or terminated/resigned before baseline data is collected
AL sites that are not a licensed Florida assisted living facility, have previously participated in a PCEAL-DCP clinical trial (2018-2021), or have no staff willing to participate in the study
I have a legal representative or family under 21 who don't understand English.
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Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Palliative care education intervention for dementia care providers, consisting of weekly 1.5-hour sessions over 4 weeks

4 weeks
4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for outcomes related to dementia care, including documentation of advance care planning and hospice use

6 months
3 visits (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Palliative Care Training
Trial Overview The PCEAL-DCP study tests a palliative care education program that spans over 4 weeks. Participants undergo training once a week for 1.5 hours, totaling 6 hours, designed to improve the quality of dementia care they provide.
Participant Groups
2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Intervention -Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Hospice nurses or social workers selected from LifePath and Suncoast Hospice organizations will train the AL interventionists on the PCEAL-DCP intervention. All hospice nurses and social workers who are facilitators will be licensed practical nurses, registered nurses or master's in social work. Prior to the intervention, the hospice facilitators will complete a four-hour workshop about the topics to cover and be trained on the protocol to follow for facilitation of the four-week PCEAL sessions so each cluster in the treatment group is trained in the same manner.
Group II: ControlActive Control1 Intervention
Wait-listed group will receive the PCEAL-DCP curriculum after completion of the study.

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of South Florida

Lead Sponsor

Trials
433
Recruited
198,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials
1,841
Recruited
28,150,000+

Findings from Research

A pilot workshop for direct care providers in a British Columbia care home successfully promoted a palliative approach to dementia care, emphasizing the need for such care earlier in the disease progression rather than just at the end of life.
Participants reported increased knowledge, skills, and confidence in providing palliative care for residents with advanced dementia, indicating the workshop's effectiveness in enhancing care practices.
A palliative approach to care of residents with dementia.Roberts, D., Gaspard, G.[2019]

References

Evaluating educational initiatives to improve palliative care for people with dementia: a narrative review. [2022]
Dementia palliative care education and training for healthcare professionals: A scoping review protocol. [2023]
Specialist Palliative Care and Dementia: Staff Challenges and Learning Needs. [2023]
A screen-based simulation training program to improve palliative care of people with advanced dementia living in residential aged care facilities and reduce hospital transfers: study protocol for the IMproving Palliative care Education and Training Using Simulation in Dementia (IMPETUS-D) cluster randomised controlled trial. [2020]
Practices, challenges, and opportunities when addressing the palliative care needs of people living with dementia: Specialty memory care provider perspectives. [2023]
A palliative approach to care of residents with dementia. [2019]
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