09/19/2024
Dementia Care Among United States Dialysis Providers: A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Clinician Comfort and Knowledge
There is a high burden of mild cognitive impairment and dementia in the US in-center hemodialysis setting. Although the prevalence of dementia is increasing, little is known about the readiness for the interdisciplinary team to provide person-centered, dementia-friendly patient care. Examining data from a US web-based survey, we found that providers felt confident in knowing when a patient had cognitive impairment, but less than two-thirds reported receiving training about dementia. Further, those who received training about dementia or had awareness of dementia guidelines had lower scores for dementia knowledge. This information can be used to develop training and guidance for interdisciplinary team to reduce staff burden and improve quality of care for patients living with cognitive impairment.