TDL is feasible for informal caregivers and seems to lead to understanding of and insight in the experience of people with dementia. Therefore, TDL could support informal caregivers in their caregiving role.
Objectives: This study aims to evaluate an online media production called 'the Alzheimer Experience' (AlzExp), which was developed to raise public awareness and enhance knowledge and understanding of dementia. Method: Before and after watching AlzExp, all visitors of AlzExp (February-June 2012) were asked to complete questionnaires on demographics, knowledge about dementia, attitude towards people with dementia (person-centeredness) and the use of AlzExp. McNemar's chi-squared test, multivariate linear regression analysis and paired t-tests were used to analyze change in knowledge, predictors for change in person-centered attitude and differences between subgroups in change in person-centered attitude.Results: Participants in this study (n ¼ 213) were mostly professionals and working with people with dementia, or had someone with dementia among their acquaintances. An increase of personcentered attitude between pre-and posttest was predicted by age, having a professional or personal relationship with someone with dementia, person-centeredness at pre-test and time spent in AlzExp. Professionals had a more person-centered attitude after watching AlzExp, as did younger people, those who spent more time in AlzExp and those who had a lower score at pre-test.
Conclusion:The beneficial impact of AlzExp found in this study was modest and in particular present for people who deal with people with dementia (professionally or personally). More insight is needed in the effects of tools aimed at raising public awareness and enhancing knowledge and understanding of dementia to tackle stigmatization associated with dementia and, thereby, improving the quality of life of people with dementia and their caregivers.
AimThe aim of the current study is to describe the extended design of the Living Arrangements for people with Dementia (LAD)‐study.BackgroundThe demand for long‐term care in care homes increases with the growing number of people with dementia. However, quality of care in care homes needs improvement. It is important to monitor quality of care in care homes for the purposes of conducting scientific research, providing input for policy, and promoting practice improvement.DesignThe Living Arrangements for people with Dementia ‐study monitors changes in ‐ quality of ‐ care in care homes since 2008. With its extended design, the Living Arrangements for people with Dementia ‐study now also focuses on additional topics that are considered to improve quality of care: implementation of person‐centred care, involvement of family carers and volunteers and reducing psychotropic drugs and physical restraints using a multidisciplinary approach.MethodsThe data collection of the Living Arrangements for people with Dementia ‐study entails an interview with the manager and questionnaires are completed by care staff, family carers, volunteers, and multidisciplinary team members. This study is partly funded by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports, grant number 323,088 and partly funded by the participating care homes.DiscussionResults of the Living Arrangements for people with Dementia ‐study will shed more light on variables related to quality of care in care homes for people with dementia.ImpactBased on the obtained information, appropriate efforts to improve quality of care can be discussed and implemented. Furthermore, the results of this study guide policy making, because it expands knowledge about the effects of changing policies and exposes topics that need further attention.Trial registration: Not applicable. This article does not report the results of a healthcare intervention on human participants.
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