PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Steve Davies

Publications and source records attributed to Steve Davies.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Efficacy of an evidence-based cognitive stimulation therapy programme for people with dementia: randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: A recent Cochrane review of reality orientation therapy identified the need for large, well-designed, multi-centre trials. AIMS: To test the hypothesis that cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) for older people with dementia would benefit cognition and quality of life. METHOD: A single-blind, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial recruited 201 older people with dementia. The main outcome measures were change in cognitive function and quality of life. An intention-to-treat analysis used analysis of covariance to control for potential variability in baseline measures. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen people were randomised within centres to the intervention group and 86 to the control group. At follow-up the intervention group had significantly improved relative to the control group on the Mini-Mental State Examination (P=0.044), the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - Cognition (ADAS-Cog) (P=0.014) and Quality of Life - Alzheimer's Disease scales (P=0.028). Using criteria of 4 points or more improvement on the ADAS-Cog the number needed to treat was 6 for the intervention group. CONCLUSION: The results compare favourably with trials of drugs for dementia. CST groups may have worthwhile benefits for many people with dementia.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Can staff attitudes to team working in stroke care be improved?

BACKGROUND: Teamwork is regarded as the cornerstone of rehabilitation. It is recognized that the skills of a multiprofessional team are required to provide the care and interventions necessary to maximize the patient's potential to recover from his/her stroke. LITERATURE REVIEW: Critical evaluation of team working is lacking in the literature. Indeed, there is no consensus on a precise definition of teamwork or on the best way of implementing it, beyond a general exhortation to members to work to the same therapeutic plan in a cohesive manner. The literature has highlighted many problems in team working, including petty jealousies, ignorance and a perceived loss of autonomy and threat to professional status. AIM: To determine if the use of team co-ordinated approaches to stroke care and rehabilitation would improve staff attitudes to team working. METHOD: A pre-post design was adopted using 'The Team Climate Inventory' to explore attitudes to team working before and after introducing the interventions. Local Research Ethics Committee approval was obtained. RESULTS: Improvements in attitudes towards team working suggest that the introduction of team co-ordinated approaches (integrated care pathways and team notes) did not result in greater team working. LIMITATIONS: The introduction of an integrated care pathway and team notes is based on an assumption that they would enhance team working. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the introduction of team co-ordinated approaches (team notes and care pathways) do not improve attitudes to team working, teams appear to take a long time to establish cohesion and develop shared values.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2002

An interdisciplinary approach to the management of dysphagia.

Patients with dysphagia are often inappropriately managed. However, nurses can be trained to screen for swallowing difficulties and the introduction of an interdisciplinary dysphagia management model can improve both the initial management of dysphagic patients and the appropriateness of referrals to speech and language therapists.

Algorithms↗