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• CIUSSS of Estrie – CHUS
• CIUSSS West-Central Montreal

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Major neurocognitive disorders, otherwise referred to as dementia, are chronic illnesses that are extremely stressful for families, patients, healthcare professionals and volunteer caregivers alike. Up to 80% of residents of long-term residential treatment centres) are affected by these conditions, with the vast majority of them presenting with at least one of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). These symptoms present in a number of different ways and are highly associated with the appearance and progression of major neurocognitive disorders, as well as being an indicator of the resident’s distressed state, as a result of which treatment by the care staff requires modification. BPSDs can, therefore, be the consequence of an unsuitable core treatment approach, and of the difficulty of correctly identifying and responding to certain needs of affected patients. In Quebec, records suggest that antipsychotics are used in long-term residential treatment centres for between 40 and 60 % of residents. Across all Canadian provinces, Quebec records the highest rate of prescription of antipsychotics in patients aged 65 years or more in long-term residential treatment centres. The need to optimize practices is widely acknowledged in Quebec, as evidenced by the recent commitments undertaken by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and by all chief executives of these facilities. A wide range of promising initiatives have been launched, and cutting-edge expertise can be found in all Integrated University Healthcare Networks (RUIS) in Quebec. Nevertheless, a true transformation of treatment across Quebec as a whole remains to be achieved.

Objective

> A provincial project entitled “Appropriate usage of antipsychotic drugs in long-term residential treatment centres for residents with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD),” also known as the OPUS-AP program, aims to improve the quality and experience of care provided at long-term residential treatment centres for patients suffering from BPSD, their loved ones, and personnel at the facilities by reducing the inappropriate use of antipsychotics through the increased use of core communications strategies and other non-pharmacological approaches.

Actions

• Involvement in the strategic provincial working group
• Involvement with the working group as expert
• Preparation of the data measurement protocol
• Steering the Committee for Measurements, Evaluation, and Information Systems (CoMESI)

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