Proposed solution to evidence based practice project-nursing

Proposed solution to evidence based practice project-nursing

The topic for my evidence based practice project focuses on the problem of using antipsychotics in elderly patients with dementia in the treatment of behavioral and psychological problems associated with the condition. Patients with dementia have a high likelihood of developing diverse psychological and behavioral symptoms, including psychosis, aggression, agitation and restlessness among others.

To address the symptoms, antipsychotics are widely applied although clinical guidelines do not recommend the medications as the first line of intervention. Antipsychotics are associated with inducing various adverse side effects on the patients, including increasing mortality and morbidity rates (Banerjee, 2014).

To address the issue of the side effects associated with using antipsychotics, the proposed solution is to use non-pharmacological intervention to treat the behavioral and psychological symptoms associated with dementia. The various non-pharmacological interventions include music therapy, physical exercises, aromatherapy, phototherapy and touch therapy among others (Banerjee, 2014).

Initially, the proposed solution to prevent the adverse events associated with antipsychotics was to use non-pharmacological interventions only. However, as the project progresses the proposed intervention has changed to using a combination of antipsychotics and non-pharmacological interventions to improve the patient outcomes. This change has been informed by various factors, the main one being the consideration that a significant number of patients with dementia demonstrate aggressive behavior and psychosis, which require pharmacological intervention. However, the proposed solution should be informed by a thorough health need assessment for every individual patient to establish the most appropriate intervention.

References

Banerjee, S.(2014). The use of antipsychotic medication for people with dementia: Time for action. London: Department of Health, United Kingdom; London.

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