Table 1 Overview of the intervention content, training, and support prior to the study

Modified Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (m-CGA) tool- box

 The Physical Self-Maintenance Scale (PSMS)

 Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD)

 Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale

 Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Questionnaire (NPI-Q, 12-ITEMS)

 The quality of life in late-stage dementia (QUALID)

 The Brief Agitation Rating Scale (BARS) a subscale of the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI)

 The 24-h registration of behaviour form

A 30 min’ lecture on how to use assessments for case conferencing

Written educational material

Case conference meeting

Four structured steps:

1) Evaluate effects of previous nursing interventions based on updated assessment

2) Create a common understanding of the problem or area for improvement

3) Determination of concrete and realistic goal of care

4) Discuss, decide and define nursing interventions and appropriate method for evaluation

A 45 min’ lecture on symptoms, causes and explanations of neuropsychiatric symptoms

A 45 min’ lecture on why and how to perform a case conference

A 30 min’ practical training session in performing a case conference (using a resident case from the actual nursing home as example)

Written educational material and a manual for structuring the case conference

Documentation and reporting (using Electronic Patient Record)

Care plan should be updated after each case conference by updating the electronic record (nursing module)

A 45 min’ lecture on the nursing care process including demonstration of resident example

Additional assessments (when the resident’s symptoms/needs, or situation requires it)

The brief agitation rating scale (BARS), 24-h registration of behaviour form

A 30 min’ lecture on how to use assessments for case conferencing

Written educational material