Factors influencing the commissioning and implementation of health and social care interventions for people with dementia: commissioner and stakeholder perspectives.

BACKGROUND: Despite several interventions demonstrating benefit to people living with dementia and their caregivers, few have been translated and implemented in routine clinical practice. There is limited evidence of the barriers and facilitators for commissioning and implementing health and social care interventions for people living with dementia. The aim of the current study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to commissioning and implementing health and social care interventions for people with dementia, using a dementia friendly exercise and physical activity-based intervention (PrAISED [Promoting Activity, Stability and Independence in Early Dementia and Mild Cognitive Impairment]) as a case study. METHODS: Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders from a range of backgrounds including individuals from health and social care, local government, the voluntary and community sector, universities, and research centres in England. The Consolidated Framework for Intervention Research (CFIR) was used to guide the design and analysis. RESULTS: Fourteen participants took part, including commissioning managers, service managers, partnership managers, charity representatives, commercial research specialists, academics/researchers, and healthcare professionals. Data were represented in 33 constructs across the five CFIR domains. Participants identified a need for greater support for people diagnosed with dementia and their caregivers immediately post dementia diagnosis. Key barriers included cost/financing, the culture of commissioning, and available resources. Key facilitators included the adaptability of the intervention, cosmopolitanism/partnerships and connections, external policy and incentives, and the use of already existing (and untapped) workforces. CONCLUSION: Several barriers and facilitators for commissioning and implementing health and social care interventions for people with dementia were identified which need to be addressed. Recommended actions to facilitate the commissioning and implementation of dementia friendly services are: 1) map out local needs, 2) evidence the intervention including effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, 3) create/utilise networks with stakeholders, and 4) plan required resources.

Promoting Activity, Independence, and Stability in Early Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (PrAISED): randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of an exercise and functional activity therapy intervention in adults with early dementia or mild cognitive impairment compared with usual care. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Participants' homes and communities at five sites in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: 365 adults with early dementia or mild cognitive impairment who were living at home, and family members or carers. INTERVENTION: The intervention, Promoting activity, Independence, and Stability in Early Dementia and mild cognitive impairment (PrAISED), was a specially designed, dementia specific, rehabilitation programme focusing on strength, balance, physical activity, and performance of activities of daily living, which was tailored and progressive and addressed risk and the psychological needs of people with dementia. Up to 50 therapy sessions were provided over 12 months. The control group received usual care plus a falls risk assessment. Procedures were adapted during the covid-19 pandemic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was score on the carer (informant) reported disability assessment for dementia scale 12 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes were self-reported activities of daily living, physical activity, quality of life, balance, functional mobility, fear of falling, frailty, cognition, mood, carer strain, service use at 12 months, and falls between months 4 and 15. RESULTS: 365 patient participants were randomised, 183 to intervention and 182 to control. The median age of participants was 80 years (range 65-95), median Montreal cognitive assessment score was 20 out of 30 (range 13-26), and 58% (n=210) were men. Intervention participants received a median of 31 therapy sessions (interquartile range 22-40) and reported completing a mean 121 minutes of PrAISED exercise each week. Primary outcome data were available for 149 intervention and 141 control participants. Scores on the disability assessment for dementia scale did not differ between groups: adjusted mean difference -1.3, 95% confidence interval -5.2 to 2.6; Cohen's d effect size -0.06, 95% confidence interval -0.26 to 0.15; P=0.51). Upper 95% confidence intervals excluded small to moderate effects on any of the range of outcome measures. Between months 4 and 15 the intervention group experienced 79 falls and the control group 200 falls (adjusted incidence rate ratio 0.78, 95% confidence interval 0.5 to 1.3; P=0.3). CONCLUSION: The intensive PrAISED programme of exercise and functional activity training did not improve activities of daily living, physical activity, or quality of life; reduce falls; or improve any other secondary health status outcomes, despite good uptake. Future research should consider alternative approaches to maintaining ability and wellbeing in people with dementia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN15320670.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings of Core Muscle Injuries in High Level Athletes.

ABSTRACT: Core muscle injuries are common injuries in athletes involved in high speed side-to-side acceleration movements. The term core muscle injury encapsulates several different injuries that occur in the pelvic region that have similar presentations. Along with a good history and physical examination, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be a helpful tool in the diagnostic process. Correct orientation and protocols are needed to show the correct anatomy with an MRI. Furthermore, to determine the exact etiology of the core muscle injury, it is important to know which structures are likely to be involved and be able to recognize the patterns of injury on imaging.

An ethnographic study comparing approaches to inter-professional knowledge sharing and learning in discharge planning and care transitions.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to investigate how three communication interventions commonly used during discharge planning and care transitions enable inter-professional knowledge sharing and learning as a foundation for more integrated working. These interventions include information communication systems, dedicated discharge planning roles and group-based planning activities. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A two-year ethnographic study was carried out across two regional health and care systems in the English National Health Service, focussing on the discharge of stroke and hip fracture patients. Data collection involved in-depth observations and 213 semi-structured interviews. FINDINGS: Information systems (e.g. e-records) represent a relatively stable conduit for routine and standardised forms of syntactic information exchange that can "bridge" time-space knowledge boundaries. Specialist discharge roles (e.g. discharge coordinators) support personalised and dynamic forms of "semantic" knowledge sharing that can "broker" epistemic and cultural boundaries. Group-based activities (e.g. team meetings) provide a basis for more direct "pragmatic" knowledge translation that can support inter-professional "bonding" at the cultural and organisational level, but where inclusion factors complicate exchange. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: The study offers analysis of how professional boundaries complicate discharge planning and care transition, and the potential for different communication interventions to support knowledge sharing and learning. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper builds upon existing research on inter-professional collaboration and patient safety by focussing on the problems of communication and coordination in the context of discharge planning and care transitions. It suggests that care systems should look to develop multiple complementary approaches to inter-professional communication that offer opportunities for dynamic knowledge sharing and learning.

An unusual ostensible example of intraoral basal cell carcinoma.

An example of oral basal cell carcinoma is presented originating on the posterior mandibular mucosa and gingiva of a 67-year-old female. Histologically, it featured a multifocal pattern. It recurred eight times in a period of 20 years. Tissue samples of the tumor were evaluated with monoclonal antibody Ber-EP4 and were compared with examples of oral mucosa, skin, oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, peripheral ameloblastoma, ameloblastoma and cutaneous basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Only neoplastic basal cells showed positive immunohistochemical staining. Additionally, microdissected neoplastic areas were evaluated for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the PTCH gene with markers D9S303, D9S252 and D9S287. PTCH gene mutations are reported in patients with Gorlin syndrome and sporadic cutaneous BCCs. Loss of one allele was observed with all three markers. Examples of conventional ameloblastomas did not show evidence of LOH. These observations support the inclusion of BCC in the differential diagnosis of appropriate oral mucosal neoplasms.