Improving Communication and Antipsychotic Prescribing in Nursing Homes

A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Nurse-Provider Communication and Antipsychotic Prescribing in Nursing Homes

Full study published in Annals of Long Term Care | October 30, 2023

Abstract

Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) is a nurse–provider communication intervention that has been successful in deprescribing inappropriate medications.

The purpose of this research was to examine whether SBAR could improve nurse–provider perceptions of communication and quality of interactions in decision making and decrease antipsychotic medication use among residents with dementia in one nursing home.

The Collaboration and Satisfaction About Care Decisions (CSACD) scale was used pre- and postintervention to evaluate nurse and provider perceptions of the quality of interactions in decision making. Project findings included a statistically significant increase (P<.05) in scores on all CSACD items following the SBAR intervention. Nurse and provider perceptions of the quality of interactions in decision making and their satisfaction with the decision-making process significantly improved postintervention. Furthermore, 14.3% of patients had reduced antipsychotic medication dosages postintervention.

These findings indicate that SBAR is an effective tool to improve nurse and provider perceptions of communication and may also help reduce antipsychotic use in nursing home residents with dementia.

Reference:

Ann Longterm Care. 2023. Published online October 30, 2023. DOI:10.25270/altc.2023.10.002