Evaluation of a Partnership Model of Hospice Enabled Dementia Care

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    An Evaluation of a Partnership Model of Hospice Enabled Dementia Care: A Four Phased Study

  • IRAS ID

    222357

  • Contact name

    Dorry McLaughlin

  • Contact email

    d.mclaughlin@qub.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Queens University, Belfast

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 11 months, 31 days

  • Research summary

    Background:
    Internationally it is recognised that people with Dementia seldom access hospice care and support, yet there is further evidence that this can be beneficial to people with Dementia and their family carers.

    Aim:
    The aim of this study is to evaluate a partnership model of Hospice Enabled Dementia Care between a specialist palliative care hospice provider (N. Ireland Hospice) and a Health and Social Care Trust.

    Design and Methods:
    The study will have 4 key phases using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Phase 1 will involve a documentary analysis of Hospice records to determine outputs and outcomes. This data will be collected by the Project Lead of the partnership model of Hospice Enabled Dementia Care and will be strictly anonymised and analysed by the project team. Phase 2 will involve semi-structured interviews with 15-25 family carers (in their home) of people with Dementia who are currently cared for, or have been cared for, by this model of hospice care. In Phase 3 focus groups will take place with 36-48 health and social care professionals and 6-8 service managers within this Hospice Enabled Dementia Partnerships Project. Focus groups will take place at N. Ireland Hospice. Telephone interviews will also take place with 15-25 General Practitioners (GPs) who have referred people with Dementia to the Hospice Enabled Dementia Partnerships Project. In addition a Reflective Diary maintained by the Project lead will be analysed. This will contain team reflections on anonymised case studies. Phase 4 will involve telephone interviews with 15-25 policy makers and service commissioners responsible for Palliative Care or Dementia Care in N. Ireland. The study will be completed March 2018.

    Outcomes:
    Findings from the study could inform service improvement for people with Dementia at end of life and education of professionals providing end of life care to this population.

  • REC name

    South East Scotland REC 02

  • REC reference

    17/SS/0024

  • Date of REC Opinion

    16 Feb 2017

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion