Mixed methods study of care for people living with dementia. Version 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A mixed-methods study of care involving ICU staff and family members for people living with dementia admitted to intensive care units
IRAS ID
304476
Contact name
Nusrat Nadir
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
De Montfort University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Intensive Care Unit(ICU) admissions for older people diagnosed with dementia near the end of life have increased, but considering invasive treatments for this group has been an ethical challenge because a wrong decision into intensive care admission could deprive someone of the right to live or constitute therapeutic obstinacy (Goncalves et al., 2019).
Evidence shows that in the advanced stages of dementia, patients are unable to communicate and make decisions. Therefore, it is important to consider the patient’s prior wishes, involving family, and healthcare professionals in the care process. Due to the high demand, cost, and limited availability of intensive care units, some healthcare policymakers have recommended that invasive life-sustaining treatments should be limited for patients with dementia. This is because ICU admissions may worsen their cognitive abilities and physical health. However, there has been very little research on the experiences and understanding of care for patients with dementia who are admitted to ICU. Therefore, this mixed-methods study aims to gain an understanding of the experiences of ICU staff and family members of patients living with dementia who have been admitted to ICU settings. The first phase of the study will encompass an exploratory qualitative design using open-ended, online, or face-to-face interviews, from ICU staff of the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI), and Glenfield hospital, and family members of people with dementia who have a current or previous ICU visit within five years. The second phase will adapt two questionnaires that will be administered to ICU staff only. These questionnaires will explore ICU staff attitudes toward people with dementia and explore the perspectives of ICU staff on whether dementia and ICU interventions are compatible for this patient category.
This project is funded by Postgraduate Research Scholarship at De Montfort University and the expected duration for this study is approximately three years.
REC name
East Midlands - Derby Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EM/0254
Date of REC Opinion
17 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion