Grant: Doctoral Award - Frederick Banting and Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarships

The rising number of older people with dementia along with the aging of the Canadian population has profound impacts and presents a unique challenge to our healthcare system. Research has shown that when people with dementia are admitted to hospital they are likely to stay longer than people who do not have dementia and receive care that does not meet their needs. In order to address the dementia challenge Canada is facing, research is needed to ensure healthcare professionals have knowledge and support to provide good care in hospitals. This study specifically aims to look at: (1) What do patients with dementia experience in relation to nursing care during hospitalization and what are their priority needs? (2) How nursing care may be optimized to improve the care experience of people with dementia and their families? Observation and conversational interviews will be conducted with patients with mild dementia in general hospitals. Families and nurses will also be interviewed and observed to examine clinical interactions, care approaches, social behaviors and local culture of the acute wards. Special techniques will be utilized to elicit the views of participants with dementia (e.g., asking in-the-moment questions as events are happening during observation, using photographs, including families in interviews). The data will be analyzed by using qualitative techniques; themes will be identified to provide a rich description of what happens when people with dementia are admitted to hospital, what the care experiences are like as well as how nursing care can be improved. Results will contribute to knowledge base of dementia care, offering guidance in nursing education and identifying strategies to enhance health outcomes and care experience of older people affected by dementia.