Using Spaced Retrieval to alleviate feeding difficulty in dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing and testing a brief intervention for feeding difficulty in Dementia
IRAS ID
228398
Contact name
Salma Rehman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Unversity of Hull
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 8 months, 28 days
Research summary
Older people with dementia nearly always develop problems feeding themselves as their condition progresses. Feeding difficulty is associated with losing weight and other problems such as pressure ulcers. It causes a lot of distress to the person with dementia and family and carers. We do not know very much about what the best ways are to help older people with dementia to feed themselves. Providing assistance is necessary but hastens loss of independence and may not be very dignified. We know that artificial feeding of older people with dementia is not successful and can be very dangerous. There is some evidence that suggest feeding ability in older people can be improved. However, as they are currently used, the interventions are probably not useful in everyday situations as they take many weeks to implement.
The proposed study will use a case study method whereby a group of older people with dementia will receive spaced retrieval training aimed to help them to feed themselves. These methods break tasks, such as feeding, into their component parts, for example, recognising it is mealtime, picking up eating utensils, using utensils properly, chewing, and swallowing. The method is repeated at longer and longer time intervals until it is established that the older person with dementia has learned and can repeat the task. The training and measurement of outcomes will be repeated weekly for eight weeks and measurement of outcomes for a further eight weeks with a view to identifying when the intervention is effective and for how long the effect is sustained. We will apply complex and novel statistical methods to analyse the outcome and will also use health economics to analyse cost-benefit. The study outcomes will also be used to inform future more complex studies into feeding difficulty in older people with dementia.
REC name
Wales REC 4
REC reference
17/WA/0278
Date of REC Opinion
24 Oct 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion