The development and evaluation of TIME - Targeted Interdisciplinary Model for Treatment and Evaluation of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms: An effectiveness-implementation cluster randomised hybrid trial in nursing homes

Abstract

This thesis describes how the use of TIME, a multicomponent interdisciplinary approach, reduced agitation in residents with dementia living in nursing homes, with a possible reduction in other neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) and an improvement in quality of life. It emphasizes that since NPS often represent complex problems with multifactorial causes, multicomponent interventions should allow for adaption and flexibility to various settings to ensure successful implementation. Using TIME, the nursing home staff’s way of learning shifted from a traditional to a more innovative and reflection-based learning process. This seemed to make translating knowledge into action easier. One important causal assumption of the effectiveness of TIME was staff members’ development of a new, shared, and situated knowledge about each individual resident. This new knowledge was created through systematic interdisciplinary group reflection based on principles from cognitive behavioural therapy and led to person-centred treatment actions.