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Dementia care in Dutch hospital settings: perspectives on person-centered nursing care and shared decision-making

Hospital admissions for people with dementia often lead to unintended negative consequences, such as complications and longer hospital stays, which are burdensome for both patients and their loved ones. Nurses play a crucial role in care, but often experience it as complex. This dissertation by Annette Plantinga focuses on how nursing care for dementia patients in Dutch hospitals can be improved, with an emphasis on Person-centered care and Shared Decision Making, from the perspective of both nurses and loved ones.

An important part of the study was the evaluation of a measurement instrument that assesses the degree of person-centred care, which allows comparison between departments and hospitals. In addition, the perspective of nurses was investigated. Although nurses have positive attitudes, many feel insufficiently equipped to deal with problem behaviour effectively and often lack specific knowledge about dementia care.

Relatives experience stress due to poor communication with nurses and do not always feel treated as care partners. They worry about the safety of their relative with dementia. Positive experiences arise when nurses recognize the patient's dementia and involve relatives in care decisions. Negative experiences occur when care is focused exclusively on the disease for which the patient was admitted.

The findings highlight the need for better education for nurses, with attention to dementia care and person-centred care. Improved communication and early recognition of dementia are essential. Further research could focus on alternatives to hospital treatments to reduce the negative consequences of admissions for dementia patients.