Evaluation of a decision support app for nurses and case managers to facilitate aging in place of people with dementia. A randomized controlled laboratory experiment

Theresa Thoma-Lürken; Michel H C Bleijlevens; Monique A S Lexis; Jan P H Hamers

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.04.019

Evaluation of a decision support app for nurses and case managers to facilitate aging in place of people with dementia. A randomized controlled laboratory experiment

Geriatr Nurs. 2018 Nov;39(6):653-662. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.04.019. Epub 2018 May 29.

Authors

Theresa Thoma-Lürken¹, Michel H C Bleijlevens², Monique A S Lexis³, Jan P H Hamers²

Affiliations

¹ Maastricht University, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Health Services Research, Living Lab on Ageing and Long-Term Care, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: t.thoma@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
² Maastricht University, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Department of Health Services Research, Living Lab on Ageing and Long-Term Care, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
³ Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Research Centre Technology in Care, Heerlen, The Netherlands.

PMID: 29858041
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.04.019

Abstract

Detecting practical problems of persons with dementia (PwD) experience at home, and advising them on solutions to facilitate aging in place are complex and challenging tasks for nurses and case managers. In this two group randomized, controlled laboratory experiment, the efficacy of a decision support application aiming to increase nurses' and case managers' confidence in clinical judgment and decision-making was tested. The participants (N = 67) assessed a case of a PwD within the problem domains: self-reliance, safety and informal care, and provided suggestions for possible solutions. Participants used either their regular procedure with (intervention group) or without the App (control group) to conduct these tasks. No statistically significant difference was found on the primary outcome measure, the overall level of confidence. However, nurses and case managers highly recommended use of the App in practice. To explain these results, more research on the potential added value of the App is needed.

Keywords: Aging-in-place; Case managers; Decision support; Dementia; Nurse.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Case Managers / psychology*
Decision Making
Decision Support Systems, Clinical*
Dementia / nursing*
Female
Humans
Independent Living*
Male
Mobile Applications*