Interactions between healthcare professionals and nursing home residents with major neurocognitive disorders

Principal investigators : Dre Anca Sterie, Dre Eve Rubli Truchard

Duration : June 2023 - December 2025

Funding : Regional foundation

According to current estimates, some 150'000 people in Switzerland live with major neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and other related neurodegenerative diseases, with higher prevalence rates among people aged 75 and over. As a result of population growth, this figure is rising steadily. 
Major neurocognitive disorders affect the language, memory and reasoning systems, which are essential for supporting communication. Moreover, communication with these people is also directly affected by the reactions, opinions and expectations of those around them. As a result, interaction can be a challenge for people with major neurocognitive disorders, as well as for those with whom they interact - relatives or healthcare professionals, especially if it involves anticipating difficult questions about their state of health or future care, but also in more ordinary relationships. Given the extent to which neurocognitive disorders are being diagnosed in our society, and the need to ensure quality care for all people, it is worth looking in more detail at the issues involved in healthcare professionals communicating with this vulnerable and marginalised population, both from a public health perspective and in research.

We are conducting a project to assess the feasibility and acceptability of observational research to investigate interactions between nursing home residents with major neurocognitive disorders and their healthcare professionals. The aim is to carry out an exploratory study on this topic, which will help to identify avenues for its subsequent deployment on a larger scale (in several nursing homes, at home and in hospital units). 
The project is taking place in a nursing home in the canton of Vaud.

Analysis in progress