Decision makers’ expectations of medications for people with dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A qualitative study exploring key decision makers’ expectations of prescribed medications for people with advanced dementia
IRAS ID
197961
Contact name
Carole Parsons
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Dementia is a major worldwide health problem. Healthcare strategies and research have highlighted the need for improved palliative and end of life care for patients with advanced dementia. The aim of palliative care is to provide quality of life and comfort care; this becomes more important as patients approach the end of life. However, patients with advanced dementia have been shown to receive less optimal pain control, undergo more burdensome interventions, have fewer advanced directives and receive less hospice care in comparison to other end of life conditions.
The appropriate use of medications has the potential to ensure that the symptoms associated with the dying process are managed suitably and that medications no longer appropriate in the advanced stages of dementia are withdrawn. However, medication use among patients with advanced dementia has been inadequately defined to date. Understanding the expectations of family members/key decision makers for people with advanced dementia in relation to medication use is important, as these expectations have the potential to influence decision-making processes and ultimately the initiation, continuation or withdrawal of medications in this vulnerable patient group.
The aim of this study is to explore key decision makers’ expectation of prescribed medications for people with advanced dementia, and their consideration of these expectations as goals of care change and dementia progresses. We will do this by carrying out face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with people who are involved in making decisions for the person with
advanced dementia. Data from the interviews will be analysed and the main themes identified.REC name
West of Scotland REC 1
REC reference
16/WS/0029
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion