Social Engagement and Antipsychotic Use in Addressing the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Long-Term Care Facilities

This article explores the correlation between antipsychotic use and social engagement in addressing BPSD among dementia patients in long-term care facilities. Findings suggest that appropriate antipsychotics can reduce symptoms of dementia.

Running head: RESEARCH
Quantitative article
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1RESEARCH
Article
Saleh, N., Penning, M., Cloutier, D., Mallidou, A., Nuernberger, K., & Taylor, D. (2017).
Social Engagement and Antipsychotic Use in Addressing the Behavioral and Psychological
Symptoms of Dementia in Long-Term Care Facilities. Canadian Journal of Nursing
Research, 49(4), 144-152. https://doi.org/10.1177/0844562117726253
Rationale
The article was selected for the assignment due to the fact that it took into
consideration two major aspects of dementia, psychological and behavioural symptoms and
established their correlation with antipsychotics, the mainstay tranquilisers or neuroleptics.
Research problem
Dementia, the disorders that are associated with a decline in memory and thinking
skills, which reduce the ability of individuals to perform daily activity was the main research
problem (Hendriks, Smalbrugge, Hertogh & van der Steen, 2014).
Research question
Is there an association between antipsychotic use and social engagement in addressing
BPSD among dementia patients? (Saleh, Penning, Cloutier, Mallidou, Nuernberger & Taylor,
2017)
Research approach
A deductive approach was used where the data analysed helped the origin of a new
theory (Johnston, 2014).
Research design
This was primarily a cross-sectional study that collected data from 2008-2011. Data
was collected from the Continuing Care Information Management System and the Resident

2RESEARCH
Assessment Instrument Minimum Data Set (RAI-MDS, Version 2.0), which pertained to the
Fraser Health Region of Canada (Luo, Lum, Wong, Kwan, Tang & Chi, 2015).
Research population and sample
Initial sample comprised of 10,763 patients, aged ≥ 65 years, who had been recently
admitted, from 2008-2011. 2,639 residents formed the final sample who had been diagnosed
with dementia after their first quarterly or full assessment (Saleh, Penning, Cloutier,
Mallidou, Nuernberger & Taylor, 2017).
Ethical approval
No particular information was provided regarding ethical considerations that were
taken into account while conducting the study.
Statistical results
SE acted as a statistically significant predictor of administration of antipsychotics
when the socio-demographic variables for dementia were controlled (odds ratio (OR) =.86,
p<.0001, CI (confidence interval) [0.82, 0.90]). However, this association was not found
when the health variables for dementia were controlled (OR=97, p<.21, CI [0.97, 1.0]).
Residents who were under antipsychotic medications were found to display lower mean for
social engagement (X=2.2, SD=1.7), depression (X=.25, SD= .43), delirium (X= 2.55, SD=
2.02), illness burden (X= .07, SD= .25) and cognitive issues (X= .75, SD= .43) (Saleh,
Penning, Cloutier, Mallidou, Nuernberger & Taylor, 2017).
Discussion
The findings showed consistency with previous findings in that females live longer
than males and show an increased likelihood of receiving LTC services. They also showed
lower susceptibility of receiving antipsychotic medications than the male residents.

3RESEARCH
Application
Findings of the article will be applied to current practice only after conducting an
extensive review on the association between antipsychotic use and social engagement of
dementia patients. Thus, while treating dementia patients manifesting behavioural and
psychological symptoms, appropriate antipsychotics will be administered upon the patients to
observe reduction in the symptoms.

4RESEARCH
References
Hendriks, S. A., Smalbrugge, M., Hertogh, C. M., & van der Steen, J. T. (2014). Dying with
dementia: symptoms, treatment, and quality of life in the last week of life. Journal of
Pain and Symptom Management, 47(4), 710-720.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2013.05.015
Johnston, A. (2014). Rigour in research: theory in the research approach. European Business
Review, 26(3), 206-217. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-09-2013-0115
Luo, H., Lum, T. Y., Wong, G. H., Kwan, J. S., Tang, J. Y., & Chi, I. (2015). Predicting
adverse health outcomes in nursing homes: A 9-year longitudinal study and
development of the FRAIL-Minimum Data Set (MDS) quick screening tool. Journal
of the American Medical Directors Association, 16(12), 1042-1047.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamda.2015.09.006
Saleh, N., Penning, M., Cloutier, D., Mallidou, A., Nuernberger, K., & Taylor, D. (2017).
Social Engagement and Antipsychotic Use in Addressing the Behavioral and
Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Long-Term Care Facilities. Canadian
Journal of Nursing Research, 49(4), 144-152.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0844562117726253