The Impact of Using Measurements of Electrodermal Activity in the Assessment of Problematic Behaviour in Dementia

• Main Authors: Catharina A. Melander, Basel Kikhia, Malin Olsson, Britt-Marie Wälivaara, Stefan Sävenstedt
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Karger Publishers 2018-10-01
• Series: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders Extra
• Subjects: Dementia; Dementia care; Nursing homes; Electrodermal activity; Behavioural psychological symptoms in dementia
• Online Access: https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/493339

Background: A major and complex challenge when trying to support individuals with dementia is meeting the needs of those who experience changes in behaviour and mood. Aim: To explore how a sensor measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) impacts assistant nurses’ structured assessments of problematic behaviours amongst people with dementia and their choices of care interventions. Methods: Fourteen individuals with dementia wore a sensor that measured EDA. The information from the sensor was presented to assistant nurses during structured assessments of problematic behaviours. The evaluation process included scorings with the instrument NPI-NH (Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home version), the care interventions suggested by assistant nurses to decrease problematic behaviours, and the assistant nurses’ experiences obtained by focus group interviews. Results: The information from the sensor measuring EDA was perceived to make behavioural patterns more visual and clear, which enhanced assistant nurses’ understanding of time-related patterns of behaviours. In turn, this enhancement facilitated timely care interventions to prevent the patterns and decrease the levels of problematic behaviour. Conclusion: With the addition of information from the sensor, nursing staff could target causes and triggers in a better way, making care interventions more specific and directed towards certain times throughout the day to prevent patterns of problematic behaviours.