Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40371986›Full record

Trial reportJournal of advanced nursing2026

Evaluating the Safety, Feasibility and Acceptability of Weighted Blankets in Acute Care for People With Dementia: A Randomised Control Trial.

A Fox, E Tomkins, M Valcovich, E Ballard

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

A FoxCentre for Healthcare Transformation, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4947-339X
E TomkinsSchool of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6550-2736
M ValcovichRedcliffe Hospital, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
E BallardQIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Funding

Redcliffe Hospital Private Practice Trust Fund 127081899
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo evaluate the safety, feasibility and acceptability of weighted blankets for patients with dementia who experience agitation in acute care.

designRandomised controlled trial.

methodsPatients with dementia experiencing agitation at a single hospital were recruited between May 2023 and January 2024. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention (weighted blanket) or control (standard care) group. Agitation scores, vital signs, skin integrity, pharmacological interventions and general observations were recorded at baseline and at 15-, 30-, 60- and 75-min (or 15-min post-blanket removal) post-baseline. Nursing staff completed a survey on the intervention's acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility.

resultsThere was a recruitment rate of 86.7%, 70% of patients tolerated the intervention for the full duration. Nursing staff agreed the intervention was appropriate (100%), acceptable (100%) and feasible (92.9%). The intervention reduced patient heart and respiratory rates. No significant impact on patient temperature, oxygen saturations, skin integrity or risk of falls was found. The intervention reduced agitation scores, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.

conclusionWeighted blankets in acute care settings are safe and have some effect on agitation and pharmacological use. Staff found the use of weighted blankets to be acceptable and most patients tolerated use of the blankets without increased risk of adverse events. IMPLICATIONS FOR PROFESSION/PATIENT CARE: This study provides evidence that weighted blankets may be used safely with the acceptance of patients with dementia and staff in hospitals. IMPACT: This study addressed the use of weighted blankets for persons with dementia who are experiencing agitation and found that they are safe and feasible for use in acute care. Future research is feasible and should focus on blanket weight dosing and the effect on agitation, pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. REPORTING

methodAdheres to the CONSORT 2010 checklist for a feasibility trial. PATIENT/PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients and public did not contribute to this study.

trial registrationACTRN12623000003673.

Indexed as

DementiaPsychomotor AgitationAgedAged, 80 and overFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient Safetyacute careaggression managementagitationdementiahospital careinterventionnon‐pharmacologicalnurserandomised controlled trial

Identifiers

PMID40371986
PMCPMC12994676

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.