Pilot study and key feasibility factors of a staff training intervention and reduction of antipsychotic prescription practice in Mexican urban care homes: study protocol.

Abstract

Background: In a context of rapid population ageing and increase in chronic illnesses including dementia in Mexico, there is a need to develop long-term care strategies in order to improve the quality of life, people affected by dementia and the people that care for them. In 2015, the prevalence of dementia in Mexico was 6.1% and it is estimated to reach to over 1.5 million by the year 2030, posing a great challenge to formal and informal caregivers. In 2014, Mexico developed a Dementia Strategy National Plan (Plan de Acción Alzheimer y otras demencias) and the objectives eight and nine of it aims to train the care work force on non-pharmacological and health professionals in care homes, and improve the appropriate antipsychotic prescription to treat challenging behavior respectively. Previous UK-based studies have been successful in training staff and health professionals by optimizing the prescription of antipsychotic medication and by implementing psychosocial interventions to treat behavioral and psychological symptoms associated to dementia.