The lived experiences of male informal spousal carers in dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Men Who Care in Dementia: The Lived Experiences of Male Carers of a Spouse or Partner with Dementia
IRAS ID
309426
Contact name
Matipa Katsukunya
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Coventry University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
P132692, Coventry University Ethics
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 0 days
Research summary
The proposed research project aims to explore the lived experiences of male spousal informal (unpaid) caregivers who care for their spouse or partner with dementia. Whilst some qualitative studies have explored caregiving in dementia, very few have investigated the experiences of men who provide informal (unpaid) care within a dementia context, where the majority of participants recruited for studies have been women. Furthermore, with 36% of family carers of people with dementia providing in excess of 100 hours of care per week, alongside the rise in dementia diagnoses made globally. Therefore, it is only more prominent that this underdeveloped research area requires further attention. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis will be used because it focuses on obtaining and describing people’s personal experiences caregiving in dementia, and help interpret the psychological processes that underlie these experiences. Approximately 40-60 minute interviews will be conducted with participants who are male and provide informal (unpaid) care to a spouse/partner with a dementia diagnosis. Interviews will be facilitated either in person or remotely (e.g. online or via telephone call). In person interviews will be conducted in a confidential setting agreed by the Lead Researcher and participant, such as in the participant's own home or a private room booked at Coventry University. Participants will be recruited from a variety of sources including two NHS Trusts, local dementia support groups and through social media platforms (e.g. Facebook).
The interviews aim to understand the caregiving experience from a male perspective, and their sense of the caregiving role, ways of coping, identity and changes in relationships.
The study is unique in its use of IPA to explore the lived experiences of male spousal (unpaid) caregiving in dementia. The study will be completed and written up as part of the Lead Researcher’s doctoral thesis.REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0146
Date of REC Opinion
3 Aug 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion