Background: In the UK, improving person-centred care for people with dementia in hospitals is a policy priority. The PIE (Person, Interaction, Environment) programme comprises cycles of observation of care by staff, identification of areas for improvement and plans for practice change and evaluation. Aim: To describe and evaluate PIE implementation in three UK NHS regions.

Methods: A qualitative design was adopted at 10 case study sites (wards), selected on the basis of readiness for change criteria. Following a training workshop, PIE cycles were introduced into each ward. Data collection comprised observation, interviews, documentary analysis and an events log. Normalisation process theory provided a guiding framework for analysis.

Results: PIE was fully adopted in two study wards over 18 months, which resulted in sustained practice change and increased awareness of person-centredness. Partial implementation of PIE took place in a further two wards but progress stalled before significant action. The remaining six wards did not implement the programme. Factors influencing the likelihood of implementation were: relevance of PIE; collective team involvement; fit with strategic priorities; adequate resourcing; effective clinical leadership; good facilitation; and organisational stability.

Conclusion: PIE has the potential to help staff improve person-centred care for people with dementia admitted to hospital wards. However, the evidence provided by this article is limited to 10 wards, of which only two fully implemented the programme.

Implications for practice:

• A programme for improving person-centred care for people with dementia in acute hospital wards requires sustained commitment from the ward and the wider organisation
• Successful practice change depends on multiple factors, including effective clinical leadership and good facilitation
• Contextual factors at various levels of an organisation need to be considered
• Use of the PIE tool has the potential to enable staff to focus on person-centred care for older people with dementia in acute settings

This article by Ann Skingley, Mary Godfrey, Rosemary Henderson, Kim Manley, Rosie Shannon and John Young is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 License.