9th Biennial ACSPRI Social Science Methodology Conference

Background: Nurses in Saudi Arabia receive minimal training on caring for patients with dementia. There are cultural views surrounding a dementia diagnosis that it is fate rather than a neurological condition. Therefore, nurses working in hospital settings may not have the appropriate knowledge and skills required to support people with dementia appropriately.
Aims: This study investigated Saudi Arabian hospital nurses’ knowledge of (cognitive expertise), attitudes toward (feelings and behaviors), and perceptions of (thoughts, concerns, and interpretations of behaviors) caring for patients with dementia to inform the development of future training programs.
Design: Six hospital settings in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, participated in the study. It utilized a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, involving a survey and diary-interviews.
Methods: Data were collected in Saudi Arabia between March and July 2018. The quantitative data consisted of demographic information and responses to two validated instruments: the Dementia Attitude Scale and Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool Version 2. The qualitative data comprised of diary entries for ten working days followed by a semi-structured interview. Data were integrated using the Pillar Integration Process.
Results: Registered Nurses (n=710) working in six hospital settings completed a self-administered survey. A self-selecting set of 18 respondents completed a diary-interview. Five themes were identified from the integrated dataset: (1) a lack of knowledge, as well as confidence when caring for patients with dementia, (2) information and resources about dementia care not always available (3) nurses’ attitudes, emotions, and perceived communication difficulties affect their delivery of care for patients with dementia, (4) stigmas, cultural norms, and perceptions associated with a dementia diagnosis can harm nursing care, and (5) organizational factors can harm people with dementia.
Conclusion: Our study showed that the experiences of nurses caring for patients with dementia in Saudi Arabian hospital settings are characterized by significant challenges stemming from insufficient knowledge, limited access to resources, and negative attitudes and perceptions. These findings highlight critical gaps in dementia care provision and underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve the quality of care. By addressing these issues and implementing the recommendations outlined in our study, healthcare organizations can enhance support for both patients with dementia and the nurses who care for them.
Impact: We found that nurses spoke candidly about the emotional toll they experienced when caring for a person with dementia. This emphasizes the urgent need to address the current lack of adequate care for individuals with dementia in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, our study sheds light on the difficulties nurses encounter when providing optimal care, providing a clearer understanding of the key factors affecting patient outcomes. These findings pave the way for enhancements in dementia care, not only in Saudi Arabia but also in other nations confronting similar challenges. By acknowledging and tackling the emotional strain experienced by nurses, targeted interventions can be implemented to improve both the quality of patient care and the well-being of nurses, ultimately leading to better outcomes for individuals with dementia.