A formulation-based model of care in a dementia inpatient ward

Abstract

This ecologically valid audit was presented as an example of clinically relevant, ‘on-the-job’ translational research in the presentation entitled ‘Behaviours that Challenge in Dementia care’ by Duffy and James at FPOP 2018. The study examined the impact of formulation-led interventions on an organic inpatient unit over a 12 month period; six months baseline versus six months formulation-led interventions. A lower number of problematic patient incidences were observed in the formulation phase. To control for the possibility of ‘seasonal’ effects, the results of the formulation unit (Unit 1) were compared to an inpatient unit in the same NHS Trust (Unit 2). The number of incidences in the second unit were significantly higher in all phases of the 12 month assessment period, indicating that the second unit experienced more problematic behaviours. A comparison of the two units showed that they differed in a number of ways, for example Unit 2 was a traditional psychiatry-led eight-bedded unit, whereas the first was a nurse-led unit with 15 beds.