Daily Monitoring of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Residential Care: Mixed Methods Pilot Study.

Abstract

Background: Many clinically relevant aspects of health are expressed through behavior, affect, and interaction, and therefore rely on observation rather than instrumental measurement; yet such information is often documented infrequently in routine care. Dementia, and particularly behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), is a relevant case because symptoms fluctuate across time and context. Little is known about how structured daily symptom assessment can be integrated into routine dementia care practice.

Objective: This pilot study aimed to investigate whether structured daily observation of BPSD, supported by digital documentation, can be incorporated into everyday residential dementia care.

Methods: A convergent mixed methods design was applied across 4 nursing home units in southern Sweden. Feasibility was operationalized through 4 focus areas (implementation, practicality, acceptability, and integration), with adherence to the registration routine as the primary feasibility outcome. Quantitative data comprised structured registrations collected daily by care staff over 90 days for 8 residents with BPSD, analyzed descriptively, and interpreted using selected NASSS (nonadoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability) framework domains to contextualize variation in symptom patterns, adherence, and registration practices. Semistructured dyadic interviews were analyzed using deductive content analysis guided by the same domains, with integration occurring at the analytical and interpretive stages.

Results: A total of 21,993 item-level registrations were completed: 19,123 NPI-NH (Neuropsychiatric Inventory - Nursing Home version) symptom ratings, recorded across 1623 shift registrations (1 per resident per shift), and 2870 individually selected variables. Overall adherence to the registration routine averaged 75% across shifts but varied considerably between residents (range 33%-90%) and between staff members. Mean time per shift registration decreased from 77.1 seconds in the initial 30-day period to 46.2 seconds in the final 30-day period (P=.008). Symptom prevalence varied widely across NPI domains (7.5% to 38.1% of observation days), and daily symptom counts varied both between and within residents. The routine was experienced as technically straightforward and easy to incorporate into daily work. At the same time, challenges emerged, including time constraints, inconsistent participation, varying levels of interpretive confidence, and difficulties distinguishing among overlapping symptoms. Organizational routines and team stability were central to sustaining staff engagement.

Conclusions: The high number of completed registrations indicates that daily observations can be integrated into daily dementia care. The participants perceived it as meaningful and useful. Feasibility was primarily influenced by organizational and interpretive factors rather than technical constraints. Further research should explore strategies to support shared routines and sustain engagement over time.