Comparison of Hand Feeding Techniques for Persons With Dementia

Duke University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Dementia

Treatments: Behavioral: Hand feeding techniques

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01780402

Pro00035130

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to test three hand feeding techniques that can be used to provide feeding assistance to persons with dementia - direct hand feeding, hand-over-hand feeding, and hand-under-hand feeding.

Full description

Proposed Aim 1: To collect pilot data related to using three hand feeding techniques for feeding persons with dementia (PWD) in the nursing home (NH) setting: (1) direct hand feeding; (2) hand-over-hand feeding; and, (3) hand-under-hand feeding. Primary outcomes are impact on frequency of aversive feeding behaviors, meal intake, and time spent assisting with feeding.

Proposed Aim 2: Evaluate implementation of the hand feeding intervention for larger randomized study of feeding techniques.

Aim 2a: Conduct a process evaluation for method of recruiting, screening, and obtaining informed consent of legally authorized representatives (LARs)/ assent of PWD.

Aim 2b: Establish fidelity to treatment for all three hand feeding interventions.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 60+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Resident of nursing home 6 weeks prior to intervention delivery
• 60+ years old
• Have a legally authorized representative to provide informed consent
• medical diagnosis of dementia
• required extensive assistance to total dependence for feeding
• Brief Interview for Mental Status (BIMS) score of 0-12

Exclusion criteria

• Positive diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Parkinson's, and/or Traumatic Brain Injury
• Any swallowing disorder
• Presence of feeding tube that is sole source for meal delivery
• Significant auditory or visual impairment

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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30 participants in 1 patient group

Hand feeding intervention delivery

Experimental group

Description:

Trained Research Feeding Assistants (TRFA), blind to the study outcomes, will assist enrolled PWDs with all three meals for two days using a pre-specified hand feeding technique. Videotaping will occur for two enrolled PWD during the six day time frame to promote efficiency. Coding of the video will be done by a trained Data Technician after meals have been recorded to determine frequency of aversive feeding behaviors, calculate meal intake, and time spent assisting with the meal.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Hand feeding techniques