The article selected for this discussion is “Reduce Psychotropic Medication Use for Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer’s/Dementia: A Quality Improvement Project” by Valere (2021). The project aimed to reduce the use of psychotropic medications in nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The project was guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model (Connelly, 2021). This is a Quality improvement model implemented by nursing researchers.
This project aimed to inform clinical staff on optional methods to handle patients with dementia to improve the quality of health of patients (Valere, 2021). The project uses previous research to evidence the risks of using psychotropic medication. The side effects of these medications include high hospitalization rates, adverse effects and even fatalities (Valere, 2021). To improve the quality of health, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are required to justify the prescription of these medications.
The Plan, Do, Study, and Act (PDSA) model is a paradigm for quality improvement that entails these four processes. The Plan phase entails determining the issue, establishing objectives, and creating an action plan. Putting the strategy into action and gathering data is part of the Do phase. In the study phase, the data are examined to see if the plan is effective. The Act phase entails modifying the plan in light of the data analysis and implementing those modifications.
In the project’s planning phase, the author identified the problem and set the project’s goals to increase caregivers’ knowledge of non-pharmacological approaches to treat dementia and behavioural patients to 85% (Valere, 2021). The plan was also to ensure the caregivers reported about a 70% reduction in the use of psychotropic medications (Valere, 2021). This was made possible through a training program, interviews and monitoring of patients.
The author implemented the predicted plan during the project’s Do phase. To increase staff knowledge and abilities about non-pharmacological therapies for dementia residents, staff education was offered (Valere, 2021). A pharmacist reviewed the medications being used to determine whether they were appropriate. To evaluate the efficiency of non-pharmacological therapies, resident monitoring was done.
In the study phase, the author analyzed the collected data, and the working staff’s use of psychiatric medications was 28% lower than the expected 30% change (Valere, 2021). 88% of the caregivers increased their knowledge of non-pharmacological methods (Valere, 2021). There were 25 participants in the training program. These showed the effectiveness of the project.
In the Act phase of the project, the author made changes to the action plan based on the data analysis. The author continued staff education and medication reviews to sustain the reduction in the use of psychotropic medications (Valere, 2021). Significant changes were made in the areas that brought challenges during the project.
The results of this quality improvement project have implications for the care of individuals with mental health illnesses. Psychotropic medication has adverse effects and could even lead to death. This information on non-psychotropic approaches to lower dementia symptoms can be used to save the mentally ill from poor-quality care.
Valere’s project is an example of a quality improvement project that seeks to improve the medication approach for patients with behavioural and dementia challenges. The project uses a PDSA quality improvement model. The results of the project suggest better and more effective ways of non-pharmacological interventions. The research also shows a better understanding of these interventions to caregivers following a training program. After confirming the validity of the project’s hypothesis, the methods used can be implemented further to improve the health quality of the mentally ill.
References
Connelly, L. M. (2021). Using the PDSA model correctly. Medsurg Nursing, 30(1), 61-54.
Valere, G. J. (2021) Reduce Psychotropic Medication Use for Nursing Home Residents with Alzheimer’s/Dementia: A Quality Improvement Project.
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