Strategies Reduced Tension for Nursing Home Staff Caring for Resistive Residents With Dementia, Study Shows

Nursing home staff employed a variety of strategies to manage cognitive dissonance when providing care for resistive residents with dementia, according to findings published online ahead of print in the Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Researchers conducted three focus group interviews with 16 staff members across three nursing homes. Content analysis of participant responses indicated “tension when facing resistiveness to care” as an overarching theme.

“Attitude change” and “changing behavior” were strategies staff employed to manage tension. These strategies included four subcategories: “changing the mindset,” “conceptual shift,” “stepping back,” and “not giving up.”

“To reduce their dissonance, the participants employed several strategies, including coercive measures,” study authors noted.

Reference:
Mortensen AH, Stojiljkovic M, Lillekroken D. Strategies to manage cognitive dissonance when experiencing resistiveness to care in people living with dementia: A qualitative study [published online ahead of print August 25, 2021]. J Adv Nurs. doi:10.1111/jan.15030