Development, design and pilot evaluation of a nurse practitioner led outpatient post-diagnostic clinic for people with dementia and their care partners: a brief report.

BACKGROUND

The number of people with dementia is rising and need for access to post-diagnostic support involving non-pharmacological treatments is in demand. Non-pharmacological treatments cover a broad range of intervention categories, such as cognitive stimulation, art therapy and physical exercise.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this brief report is to examine the development and design of a nurse practitioner-led post-diagnostic clinic, and assess its impact on participants cognition, psychological wellbeing and quality of life.

METHODS

The clinic was located at the University of Wollongong, a regional university in New South Wales, Australia. Participants were eligible if they had a clinical-confirmed diagnosis of dementia, living in the community (not residential aged care). Participants were invited to attend the clinic weekly, for 1-2 h, for up to 12-months and had the flexibility to choose their preferred activities each session.

RESULTS

A total of 16 people with dementia attended the clinic between September 2022 and June 2024. A total of eight out the 16 consented to participate in the study. The findings suggest that participants maintained their cognition, psychological wellbeing, and quality of life over the 12-month evaluation period, highlighting the clinic's potential role in support stability in these domains.

CONCLUSION

The strength of the clinic model is the unique and individualised way in which people with dementia were enabled to have choice in the activities and sessions they engaged with, reflecting person-centred practice values. This report provides structural guidance to develop and implement person-centred models of post-diagnostic care for dementia.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Identifier (ACTRN12625000014459).