Background
As part of the Irish Hospice Foundation Changing Minds: Promoting Excellence in End- of-life Care for People with Dementia initiative,the lead applicant-researcher (Dr. Alice Coffey) and co-applicants partnered with the lead applicant-knowledge user (IHF) to develop evidence based guidance for the management of 1) pain, 2) hydration and nutrition, and 3) medication for persons with dementia. The current project supported by the Health Service Eexecutive (co-applicant knowledge-user) is an extension of this work
Aim
To support the implementation of evidence based practice (EBP) guidance for pain, hydration and nutrition and medication management in dementia palliative care practice.
Design
A multi-site Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach will be used, underpinned by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services(i-PARiHS) Framework. Three Long Term Care (LTC) facilities will be recruited as study sites and one evidence based guidance area will be implemented per site.
Data Collection
Data will be collected using mixed methods and guided by the hybrid of frameworks. Pre intervention baseline situational (institutional and stakeholder) analysis will be conducted to determine implementation feasibility, policy/procedure and education requirements. Qualitative data will be collected throughout via interviews, observations, focus groups and Work Based Learning Groups (WBLG) to reflect and evaluateguidance and site specific requirements. Post implementation a situationalanalysis will be repeatedto evaluate uptake, outcomes and process of implementation.
Impact on Health and Practice
This research facilitates the translation and application of evidence based guidance for dementia palliative care and will have a positive impact on the services delivered and health outcomes. The project includes a co-applicant knowledge user (HSE General Manager) who will influence the translation of research to practice and National Clinical Leads for Older Persons to enable project outputs to influence policy.
