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An Italian Model of Dementia Special Care Unit
Angelo Bianchetti, Paolo Benvenuti, Karin M. Ghisla, Giovanni Battista Frisoni, Marco Trabucchi. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 1997-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
A small feasibility study was performed in Italy to evaluate whether the special care unit (SCU) model could minimize behavioral disturbances in demented patients. In a nursing home an area was selected to provide an appropriate environment for individuals with dementia. The physical environment was adapted, and the staff was trained to meet the needs of demented patients. Sixteen residents were transferred from traditional wards to the SCU. Functional status, cognitive performance, behavioral symptoms, and use of psychotropic drugs or physical restraints were assessed before and 6 months after admission to the SCU. Our findings show that transferring demented persons from traditional nursing home wards to an SCU significantly lessens behavioral problems but does not improve functional abilities or cognitive status after a short period of follow-up. Changes in caring strategies (in particular the use of physical restraints) seem to be important in reducing behavioral problems. The regional government of Lombardia (8.5 million inhabitants) decided to open small (20-bed) SCUs in 60 nursing homes (corresponding to 3.5% of the total nursing home beds in our region) and to reserve these units for demented patients with a high level of behavioral disturbances.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
This small feasibility study in Italy found that moving 16 residents with dementia to a special care unit reduced behavioral problems but did not improve functional abilities or cognitive status after six months. Reported effect size: 3.5%.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Bianchetti, A., Benvenuti, P., Ghisla, K. M., Frisoni, G. B., & Trabucchi, M. (1997). An Italian Model of Dementia Special Care Unit. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002093-199703000-00009
Vancouver
Bianchetti A, Benvenuti P, Ghisla KM, Frisoni GB, Trabucchi M. An Italian Model of Dementia Special Care Unit. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders. 1997. doi:10.1097/00002093-199703000-00009. PMID: 9071445.
BibTeX
@article{bianchetti1997-9071445,
author = {Bianchetti, Angelo and Benvenuti, Paolo and Ghisla, Karin M. and Frisoni, Giovanni Battista and Trabucchi, Marco},
title = {{An Italian Model of Dementia Special Care Unit}},
journal = {Alzheimer Disease \& Associated Disorders},
year = {1997},
doi = {10.1097/00002093-199703000-00009},
pmid = {9071445},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/00002093-199703000-00009}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Our findings show that transferring demented persons from traditional nursing home wards to an SCU significantly lessens behavioral problems but does not improve functional abilities or cognitive status after a short period of follow-up.
Why it matters
This small feasibility study in Italy found that moving 16 residents with dementia to a special care unit reduced behavioral problems but did not improve functional abilities or cognitive status after six months. It is preliminary and addresses care environment and behavior management, not curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Effect size3.5%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders: journal h-index 131 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1997 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 40 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 31 year(s) since 1997 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Marco Trabucchi: h-index 68 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli: institution h-index 282 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 9071445) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
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