Effect of Person-Centred-Care on Antipsychotic Drug Use in Nursing Homes: a Cluster-randomised Trial (EPCentCare)

Background: Up to 90% of nursing home residents with dementia experience behavioural and psychological symptoms like apathy, agitation, and anxiety. According to analyses of prescription prevalence in Germany, antipsychotic drugs seem to be prescribed as first line treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in persons with dementia. A huge number is prescribed for inappropriate reasons and too long without regular review. The use of antipsychotics is associated with adverse events like increased risk of falling, stroke, and mortality. This study aims to investigate whether a person-centered care approach developed in the United Kingdom can be adapted and implemented in German nursing homes. The aim of the investigators trial is to achieve a clinically relevant reduction of the proportion of residents with alt least one antipsychotic drug prescription. Methods/Design: Cluster-randomised controlled trial comparing an intervention group (two-day initial skill training on person-centred care and on-going training and support programme) with a control group receiving optimised usual care. Both study groups will receive a medication review by an experienced psychiatrist with feedback to the prescribing physician. Overall, 36 nursing homes from East, North and West Germany will be included and randomised. The primary outcome is defined as the proportion of residents receiving at least one antipsychotic medication at 12 months. Secondary outcomes are residents' quality of life, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia as well as safety parameters like falls and fall-related medical attention. Cost parameters will be collected and process evaluation will be performed alongside the trial.

nursing homes, person-centered care, inappropriate prescriptions, cluster-randomised controlled trial, antipsychotic drugs

Cost parameters will be collected alongside the trial on intervention-related components as well as outcome-related components. Costs which are explicitly trial-associated will not be taken into account for cost analysis.

Physical restraints will be assessed retrospectively by data extraction from residents' records- The following devices will be assessed: bilateral bedrails, belts, fixed tables, and other measures limiting free body movement.

Each resident's daily dose of antipsychotic drugs will be translated into chlorpromazine daily equivalents.

Different methods will be used for data collection: investigators documentation, questionnaires on staff knowledge and self-efficacy, structured interviews and in depth-interviews with staff.

On cluster level Inclusion Criteria: nursing homes with at least 50 residents Exclusion Criteria: other ongoing trial in the institution On individual level Inclusion Criteria: all residents within a cluster are eligible to participate in the study Exclusion Criteria: diagnoses of schizophrenia, schizoaffective psychosis, or other forms of primary psychosis respite care

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Richter C, Berg A, Langner H, Meyer G, Kopke S, Balzer K, Wolschon EM, Silies K, Sonnichsen A, Loscher S, Haastert B, Icks A, Wolf U, Fleischer S. Effect of person-centred care on antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes (EPCentCare): a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Age Ageing. 2019 May 1;48(3):419-425. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afz016.

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Richter C, Berg A, Fleischer S, Kopke S, Balzer K, Fick EM, Sonnichsen A, Loscher S, Vollmar HC, Haastert B, Icks A, Dintsios CM, Mann E, Wolf U, Meyer G. Effect of person-centred care on antipsychotic drug use in nursing homes (EPCentCare): study protocol for a cluster-randomised controlled trial. Implement Sci. 2015 Jun 4;10:82. doi: 10.1186/s13012-015-0268-3.