Using appreciative inquiry to implement person-centred dementia care in hospital wards

Scerri, A; Innes, A; Scerri, C

Abstract

The quality of care of persons with dementia in hospitals is not optimal and can be challenging. Moreover, staff may find difficulty in translating what they have learned during training into practice. This paper report the development and evaluation of a set of workshops using an Appreciative Inquiry (AI) approach to implement person-centred dementia care in two hospital wards. Staff worked collaboratively to develop a ward vision and to implement a number of action plans. Using AI approach, staff attitudes towards persons with dementia improved, inter-professional collaboration was enhanced and small changes in staff practices were noted. Dementia care in hospitals can be enhanced by empowering staff to take small but concrete actions after they engage in AI workshops, during which they are listened to and appreciated for what they can contribute.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 19, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Oct 6, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 15, 2016
• Journal: Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice
• Print ISSN: 1471-3012
• Electronic ISSN: 1741-2684
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 190-209
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1471301216663953
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1471301216663953