Nurse-Led Virtual Delivery of PIECES in Canadian Long-Term Care Homes to Support the Care of Older Adults Experiencing Responsive Behaviors During COVID-19: Qualitative Descriptive Study.
Anna Garnett, Denise Connelly, Marie-Lee Yous and 10 others
PMID 36446050WHAT IT FOUND
Nurses and families in long-term care described virtual care conferences as a way to include relatives in planning for residents with behavioral changes.
Participants valued the personal connection and interdisciplinary input, though some families lacked feedback on outcomes and older adults with severe impairment struggled to join.
Key findings
01Participants reported that virtual PIECES facilitated individualized care, recognized families as partners, and improved interdisciplinary collaboration.
02A significant barrier was the limited opportunity for families to receive feedback on whether their suggestions were implemented or if behaviors improved.
03Staff and families noted that advanced cognitive impairment and sensory deficits often prevented older adults from meaningfully participating in virtual conferences.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in only two long-term care homes in Ontario, which may limit the transferability of findings to other settings. Data were collected via single interviews and focus groups at the mid-stage of implementation, so experiences over time were not captured. Demographic data on participants were limited, and the sample was predominantly female, reflecting the workforce but potentially limiting diversity. As a qualitative study, it reports perceptions and experiences rather than measuring clinical outcomes such as reduction in antipsychotic use or improvement in resident quality of life.
Declared interests
The authors received ethics approval from local University Ethics Boards. Participants received a Can $25 gift card. No other specific commercial conflicts of interest are declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these positive experiences as evidence that virtual PIECES reduces responsive behaviors or improves resident health outcomes. The study reports perceptions of process and engagement, not clinical efficacy.