Dementia and Spirituality: A Pilot Study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    A Pilot Study to explore how the spiritual needs of dementia patients are addressed within Care and Treatment Plans in three Health Boards in Wales.

  • IRAS ID

    182538

  • Contact name

    Anne/A Fothergill

  • Contact email

    anne.fothergill@southwales.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    University of South Wales

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 6 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    Aim
    To ascertain how the spiritual needs of dementia patients are addressed within the Care and Treatment plans (CTPs) (Patient care plans) in 3 health boards in Wales (these are: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Cwm Taf University Health Board and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board)

    Objectives:
    1. To analyse dementia patients’ CTPs, from both older persons Community Mental Health Teams (CMHTs) and in-patient wards.
    2. To compare Domain 7 of the CTP (this refers to the cultural, spiritual and social needs of the patient) with the other domains of the CTP.
    3. To conduct focus groups with staff to explore their views on completing Domain 7 of the CTP; this will be compared with the written CTP.

    Inclusion Criteria
    1. CTPs of patients with a diagnosis of dementia in the 3 health boards
    2. Health care professionals contributing to the CTPs identified in 1.

    Methods
    The study will be conducted in 3 phases and will use mixed methods:

    Phase 1. Literature review of spiritual care in dementia.

    Phase 2. Thematic analysis of Domain 7 of a sample of around 50-100 CTPs (which have Domain 7 completed) collected from the older persons CMHTs and wards in the 3 health boards to identify how the spiritual needs of patients are being addressed, how often CTPs are updated (if they are) and by whom.

    The sample will be identified purposively by clinical co-applicants based upon the inclusion criteria. The content of Domain 7 will be compared with the other domains (i.e. how does the content, volume and frequency/method of evaluation compare?).

    Phase 3. Focus groups with health care professionals to explore the emerging themes identified in Phase 2.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 6

  • REC reference

    15/WA/0333

  • Date of REC Opinion

    9 Sep 2015

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion