The 31 October, the Sant Cugat Campus hosted the 11th edition of the Interdisciplinary Approach to the Elderly event, which this year was entitled “New Challenges in the Prevention and Management of Agitation”. Promoted by 4th year students on the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing, the scientific event brought together experts from different areas of healthcare who shared their experiences with future nursing professionals.
On this occasion, Encarna Rodríguez, director of the Nursing Department; Laia Pareja, president of the Scientific Committee; and Beñat Plaza, president of the Organising Committee, were in charge of welcoming the attendees and kicking off the Event.
First, a round table was held that focused on the new challenges in the prevention and management of agitation in the elderly. Moderated by student Conchi Rodríguez, the table was attended by Anna Llongueras, head of the Barcelona Health Coordination Centre Room (CECOS) of the SEM (Medical Emergency System); Michiko Ishiguro, geriatric nurse specialist at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital; and Anna Fitó, president of the Association of Relatives of People with Alzheimer’s from Vallès Occidental. From their respective areas, the three speakers shared their experience and reflections with the attendees, while answering the different questions raised at the table.
Specifically, they stressed that, although projects aimed at the prevention and management of agitation have begun to be implemented, it is essential to increase the training of health professionals, family members and caregivers who work with this type of patients. They also recalled the importance of continuing work to establish mutual help networks between different sectors of the population and social and health services.
After the coffee break, the final year students of the degree in Nursing presented their work in a round table of oral communications moderated by Marc Hidalgo, and in another of posters, moderated by Blanca Pujol. The papers presented dealt with topics such as music therapy, strategies for the prevention and management of agitation in assisted bathing, the prevention of falls in agitation, experiences regarding the use of restraints, analysis and comparison of protocols and their application, or experiences in intensive before agitation in delirium.
This was followed by the awarding of prizes to the most outstanding papers in each category, which was carried out by the judging panel made up of teachers and researchers Cristina Monforte, Ignacio McPherson, Laia Wennberg, Lea Martín and Ramón Mir. The award for Best Oral Communication went to Michelle Monsalve, Tomás Bodego, Marc Hidalgo, Blanca Pujol and Concepción Rodríguez for the work “Experiences of formal and informal caregivers on strategies to prevent agitation in elderly people with dementia during assisted bathing. A cross-sectional descriptive study.” In the category of Best Poster, the award went to Laia Flores and Laia Pareja, for the work “Review of the literature of clinical trials on the effectiveness of music therapy for the control of psychomotor agitation in elderly people with dementia”. All the winners received a copy of the book Enfermeras Invisibles (Invisible Nurses), an initiative that gives visibility to nurses who have stood out for their innovations in the profession throughout history.
Marian de Juan, lecturer and coordinator of the subjects that were the basis for the event, was in charge of closing the day, reflecting on student leadership and the many challenges involved in organising a day of this kind. Finally, Beñat Plaza, president of the Organising Committee, gave thanks for the support received from the Department of Nursing and colleagues of the degree, as well as to the sponsors who collaborated on this year's edition: Algoritmia, Homs Rentals, Euroviper Aluminis, Cristalería Lloreda and Enfermeras invisibles.
