Literature Review on Dementia and the Role of Nurses

This report presents a comprehensive literature review on dementia, exploring the disease's characteristics, types, and causes. It examines the role of certified nurses in caring for dementia patients, particularly within aged care settings. The review includes a flow chart of the literature search process, a summary of key findings from various studies, and an analysis of the challenges nurses face. The report highlights the importance of effective training for nurses to address the emotional, spiritual, and practical needs of dementia patients. It also discusses different classifications of dementia, including primary and secondary types, and the damage dementia can cause to a person's health and cognitive functions. The review synthesizes multiple research papers to provide a holistic understanding of dementia and its implications for nursing practice, emphasizing the need for efficient and effective patient care.

Literature review

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
Literature Review ............................................................................................................................3
Section 1.................................................................................................................................3
Flow chart of Literature search...............................................................................................3
Section 2.................................................................................................................................6
Literature summary................................................................................................................6
To understand the concept of dementia .................................................................................6
To analyse the role of certified nurse while dealing with mentally disabled patients ...........8
To measure the challenges faced by certified nurses while serving patients with dementia in
Bethaine Aged Care..............................................................................................................10
Section 3...............................................................................................................................11
Key finding...........................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
Literature review is defined as scholarly paper that includes current knowledge such as
findings and theoretical and methodological contribution to a specific topic (Birks, J. S., &
Harvey, R. J. (2018). The following report consists of a literature review on nursing and a
disease called as dementia. The report consists of three parts – the first part includes a flow chart,
the second part includes literature summary and third part includes key findings and references.
Flow Chart
Study Origin Study
design
Sample size Analysis Key findings
Han, Hou &
Yu
UK Cohort study
design
100 dementia
patients
Statistical
analysis
Dementia
patients
needs
effective
care.
Webster UK Cohort study
design
71 certified
nurses
Retrospective
analysis
Nurse
practitioners
required to
be trained
effectively
for treating
dementia
patients
Slape England and
Wales
Cohort study
design
68 dementia
cases
Statistical
analysis
Family
members of
dementia
patients are
experiencing
emotional
and spiritual
needs while

palliative
care stages.

Birks England and
Wales
Cohort study
design
75
dementia
cases
Statistical
analysis
It is essential
to proide
effective care
to Dementia
patients.
Brooker UK Cohort study
design
71 certified
nurses
Retrospective
analysis
It is
important for
Nurse
practitioners
to be trained
effectively as
to treat
dementia
patients.
Forbes England and
Wales
Cohort study
design
65 certified
nurses
Retrospective
analysis
Nurse
practitioners
required to
be trained
effectively
for treating
dementia
patients
Gray UK Cohort study
design
60
dementia
cases
Statistical
analysis
Dementia
patients
needs
effective
care.
McKeith England and
Wales
Cohort study
design
71 certified
nurses
Retrospective
analysis
Nurse
practitioners
required to
be trained

effectively
for treating
dementia
patients
Jung UK Cohort study
design
58 dementia
cases
Statistical
analysis
It is essential
for Dementia
patients to
have best
effective
care.
Livingston England and
Wales
Cohort study
design
50 dementia
cases
Statistical
analysis
Dementia
patients must
get efficient
care.
Literature Review
Section 1
Purpose:To improve and demonstrate skills which are related to reviewing nursing literature
using a systematic approach. With the help of this literature review, the information can get
about dementia and its causes.
Search strategy: It indicates to an organised structure of key tems which are utilized to search
records and database. This strategy consists the key concepts of search questions in context of
get accurate outcomes.
Flow chart of Literature search
PRISMA Flow Chart- It is a diagram or geographical representation of the flow of citations
reviewed in the course of a systematic review (Brooker, D., & Latham, I. (2015). The major

objective of the PRISMA statement is to help the researcher to improve the reporting of
systematic reviews and meta analyses.
Steps of Flow Chart
Preparation- It is the first step, under which the person do preparation regarding Flow chart
that for which kind of information they want to get from this chart, which kind of tools and
systems they should use in it (Forbes, D.& et. al., (2015).
Doing the database search- This is second stage of flow chart within it, information search by
using different tools and techniques of database search (Gray, S. L. & et. al., (2015). For
example, according this report, in this step the individual search information about dementia, its
cause, its effects and others. If there are number of people are include in this process then all
the records identified up and fill this total number in the PRISMA flow chart. This process of
adding up the number of records in individual database find out to a total which require to be
repeated at each step if search database separately.
Records identified through
Database searching
(n=660 )
Additional records identified
Through other sources
(n=0 )

Additional sources- In context of gathering inflammation if the individual collect information
through other sources than database enter the total number of records in the box on the top right
of the flow chart.
Remove all duplicates- Within this step, remove or avoid all the article and information which
appear more than one related to dementia (Jansen, W. J. & et. al., (2015). This process is doing
by the individual so that they can minimize the chances of mistakes and empty the space which
is covered due to repetition of the articles and database.
Screening articles- This step is to assist in the number of articles and database regarding
dementia that have screened by the individual (McKeith, I. G. & et. al., (2017). It is the same
number which the person have entered in the duplicates removed box.
Records identified through
Database searching
(n=660)
Additional records identified
Through other sources
(n=0 )
Records identified through
Database searching
(n=660 )
Additional records identified
Through other sources
(n=0 )
Records after duplicates removed
(n=659 )
Records after duplicates removed
(n= )
Records after duplicates removed
(n= )
Records after duplicates removed
(n=659 )
Records screened
(n=658 )

Screening( Excluded articles)- Under this stage, it is required to screen the titles and abstracts
for database which are required to research. For example, if any information which seems that it
will be helpful for providing data about dementia should be considered.
Eligibility- This is the seventh step and within it subtract the number of excluded articles,
information or people from the total number of records.
Eligibility(records excluded)- Within it, all full text articles and information for eligible to be
included in the final review (Jung, C. G. (2015). For example, information related to dementia,
its cause, precautions and others.
Included- It is the final step and in it subtract the number of excluded records and database
during the eligibility review from the total number of records reviewed for eligibility
(Livingston, G. & et. al., (2017).
Records screened
(n=658 )
Records excludeded
(n=656 )
Records screened
(n=658 )
Records screened
(n=658 )
Full text articles assessed
for eligibility
(n= 80)
Full text articles excluded
with reasons
(n=658 )
Full text articles assessed
for eligibility
(n= 80)
Full text articles excluded
with reasons
(n=658 )
Studies included in
qualitative synthesis
(n= 530 )
Studies included in quantitative
Synthesis (meta-analysis)
(n= 10)

Section 2
Literature summary
To understand the concept of dementia
Dementia is a disease which is a term that describes group of symptoms related to decline
of memory of individuals. This may include severe problem in thinking ability of an old person.
There are different symptoms of dementia and one of which is memory loss. Individuals having
problem of dementia have short term memory issues. They are not able to do daily activities like
paying of bill, preparing meals, travelling with neighbours and remembering appointments.
There are many dementia patients seen in research which are progressive, which means they start
slowly and with time they get worse.
Types of Dementia
According to the viewpoint of Han, Hong, and Yu (2018), dementia is a condition used
for diminution in mental cognition of a person. This disease is so severe that people suffering
from this disease do not even remember daily life activities. There are different phase of
dementia such as Mild, Moderate, Severe, Profound and Terminal. Mild includes problem faced
by individuals in managing medical schedules, meals, check book maintenance, etc. Moderate
dementia includes problem related to nutrient planning, social unit or garden work. This includes
some help with personal care. Severe dementia consists of different problems related to feeding,
toileting and grooming. Profound dementia includes large oblivious to surroundings and
depending on them. At last Terminal stage which causes a person to be bed bound. In this case,
the person needs constant care.
Classification of dementia
As per the thoughts of Skoog, and Aevarsson, (2019), Other classification of dementia
includes Primary and secondary, cortical and sub cortical, reversible and irreversible, early and
late onset. The primary dementia includes Alzheimer’s Disease Causes of Dementia, Fronto
temporal dementia Parkinsons disease Huntington’s disease, Dementia with Lewy Body,
Parkinsons disease, Huntington’s disease, Progressive supranuclear palsy, Corticobasal
degeneration, ALS Parkinson's dementia complex of Guam and Multisystem atrophy (Luchetta,
S. (2018). The secondary dementia consists of various diseases like Vitamin Deficiency,
endocrine Chronic Infections, Vit B12/Folic acid, Hypothyroidism, HIV, Thiamine B1

hyperthyroidism, Neurosyphilis Nicotinic acid (pellagra), Cushing Syndrome PML, Prion
Tuberculosis, fungal, and protozoal Hypoparathyroidism and Whipple's disease. The main
affect of this disease is memory failure and Alzheimer is the most ordinary form of dementia
found in individuals. This disease is not a specific disease but on the other hand this is a huge
term that describes different symptoms related to declination of memory or over thinking skills
(Prins, N. D., & Scheltens, P. (2015). These have a bad effect on respective wellness and these
can reduce the ability of an individual to perform day to day activities. Alzheimer is a disease
that is found in approximately 60 to 80 percent of patients of dementia. Another type of dementia
i.e. Vascular dementia is the ordinal most democratic type of dementia that generally happen
after a stroke. Some other symptoms of dementia are reversible and these include thyroid
problems and vitamin deficiency.
Damages caused by Dementia
According to thoughts of Birks, and Harvey, (2018), Dementia can cause great damage
to health of the person. Some common causes are damages to brain cell and this limits the
knowledge of brainpower cells in communicating with each other. Due to this, brain cells are not
able to communicate normally and thinking, feelings and behaviour is affected badly. Brain is
the most important part of body and it has various regions which have different functions like
memory, movement and judgement. If cells of a specific part of brain are battered than that area
or area cannot carry out purpose in normal manner.
Dementia at different levels of brain
According to thoughts of Hiyoshi-Taniguchi, Becker, and Kinoshita, (2018), There are
various types of dementia that are related with different regions or areas of brain. This can be
explained with an example, in case of Alzheimer, some amount of protein outside and inside of
brain cell creates problem for cells of brain to remain flushed and transmit with each other.
Hippocampus is part of brain which is centre of acquisition and representation. This is the reason
that memory loss is earliest symptom of Alzheimer. The different conditions that can cause
dementia are depression, side effects of medicines, excess use of alcohol, deficiency of vitamin
and thyroid problems. Diagnosis of dementia is supported on surgical continuum, laboratory
tests, sensual investigation and characteristics alteration in reasoning and day to day utility. At
early stage of this disease, it is not easy to evaluate exact type of dementia as symptoms and
brain changes of different dementia can overlap (Satizabal, C. L. & et. A., (2016). Thus it is

important to consult a specialist like neurologist or Gero- psychologist in these cases. The
treatment of dementia depends upon it's cause. In case of Alzheimer, there is no attention or
cure. Some drug treatment is given that can help in temporarily improving symptoms. There are
some non drug medical care which relieve various symptoms of dementia. There are various risk
factors of dementia like age, genetics which cannot be denaturized (Sharma, A., & Kansal, L.
(2016). Seeker are involved in diagnose the effect of these hazard constituent on brain and
prevent dementia. The almost progressive region of investigation in hazard prevention and
decrease consists of vessel component, diet and sensual physical fitness.
To analyse the role of certified nurse while dealing with mentally disabled patients
According to the viewpoint of Webster (2014), the role and responsibility of registered
nurse is to give healthcare to families, communities and individuals. These are involved in
providing services for promoting health, preventing illness and achieving optimal recovery from
health problems. There are various roles and responsibilities of registered nurses and these
include assessing health status and needs of patient and family, developing an individual plan for
managing pain, improving function and maximising independence, providing education,
strengthening coping strategies and improving access to community resources (Birks, J. S., &
Harvey, R. J. (2018). Other responsibilities of nurses includes identifying outcomes, assuring
that treatment is done correctly, planning and serving as a case manager for coordinating care.
Roles of registered nurses
As per the thoughts of Rayan, and Ahmad, (2018), A registered nurse is responsible for
administering, monitoring and educating about medications or therapies. Nurses have to give
health promotion and teaching. A registered nurse can work in hospitals, home health, clinics,
nursing homes and clinics. Nursing is one of the fastest growing careers of the world and role of
nurses is important as it provides treatment to different patients. Nurses have to specially treat
mentally disabled patients than normal patients (Brooker, D., & Latham, I. (2015). There are
basically two types of nurses involved in treating mentally ill patients i.e. psychiatric nurses and
mental health nurses. Psychiatric nurses are involved in mental health assessment, crisis
intervention, therapy and medication, patient assistance. These nurses help patients in managing
mental illness.
According to the viewpoint of Treichler, and Lucksted,(2018), Psychiatric nurses start
their treatment by taking interviews of patients and assessing them to know their histories,