How is Dementia talked about between and within marital couples?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
How is Dementia talked about between and within marital couples? – A discourse analysis of dementia
IRAS ID
160598
Contact name
Kerri Walster
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Essex
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 30 days
Research summary
Dementia is a global problem with physical, psychological, social and economical impacts (WHO, 2014). Most researchers have focused upon brain changes in dementia; some have explored the effects of dementia upon family members/carer’s; 4 (known) studies have interviewed the person with dementia and their spouse about the impact of dementia. This qualitative study will explore how marital partners talk about issues relating to dementia, when one spouse has a diagnosis of dementia. It will use a mixed-methods design; approximately 8 spouses/4 marital couples will be offered an individual interview and approximately 8 spouses/4 marital couples will be offered an interview in their marital dyad (as discussions may vary between these conditions). Patients with a diagnosis of dementia, with full mental capacity will be eligible. Patients must be in a marital relationship, and both spouses must be willing to participate. The study will recruit from a Specialist Dementia and Frailty Service, North Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. Clinician's in this service will identify potential suitable participants, and will send suitable patients and their partners study information letters. The Chief Investigator will conduct interviews in the Specialist Dementia and Frailty Service, at St Margaret's Hospital or another NEPFT base. Interviews will be transcribed and analysed using Discourse Analysis. As common to this analytical approach, external documents relevant to participant’s interview discussions will be combined in the data analysis. This is in order to consider whether the narratives that spouses are exposed to can influence the way they talk about dementia and interact. This study hopes to inform clinical practice (i.e. services available for people with dementia/their spouses) and enhance theoretical and practical understandings of dementia. The project will be written up as part of a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and kept in the Albert Sloman library at the University of Essex.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0233
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jul 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion