The effectiveness of a structured educational reminiscence-based programme for staff in long-stay units on the quality of life of residents with dementia: A cluster randomised trial. The DARES Study.
Fionnuala Jordan
NUIG
Dr. Fionnuala Jordan works in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, National University of Ireland, Galway. She works there in a teaching and research capacity. Fionnuala has worked extensively in the area of Psychiatry, clinically in her capacity as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, as a Nurse Adviser in the pharmacological management of serious mental illnesses and also as a Mental Health Lecturer. She is a co-author of an e-learning module titled, ‘Managing the Physical Health Needs of People with Serious Mental Illness’. She has collaborated on this subject with colleagues from the UK, Professor Richard Gray, Deborah Dobson and Jacquie White.From a research perspective, Fionnuala has a special interest in quantitative research methodology, particularly randomised trial study designs to evaluate the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention which focuses on enhancing the quality of life of service users’. Her PhD evaluated the effectiveness of a structured educational reminiscence-based programme for staff on the quality of life of residents with dementia, the DARES Study. She has considerable experience in systematic review methodology, having completed one as part of her PhD thesis and is presently the lead author of a Cochrane systematic review.
Abstract
Background Reminiscence is a psychosocial intervention commonly used in dementia, although there is little evidence to support its use. Aims To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational reminiscence-based... [ view full abstract ]
Background
Reminiscence is a psychosocial intervention commonly used in dementia, although there is little evidence to support its use.
Aims
To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational reminiscence-based programme for staff in long-stay units on the QoL of residents with dementia.
Methods
The DARES study was a two-group, single-blind cluster randomised trial conducted in public and private long-stay residential settings in Ireland. Randomisation to control and intervention was at the level of the long-stay residential unit. Sample size calculations suggested that 18 residential units each containing 17 people with dementia were required for randomisation to control and intervention groups to achieve power of at least 80% with alpha levels of 0.05. Each resident in the intervention group was linked with a nurse and care assistant who had completed the structured reminiscence-based education programme. Residents allocated to the control group received usual care. The primary outcome was QoL of residents measured by the QoL-AD instrument. Blinded outcome assessment was undertaken at baseline and at 18-22 weeks post-randomisation.
Findings
Using an intention to treat complete case analysis, on average, there was no statistical significant difference, between residents allocated to the SERPS and residents allocated to usual care. Estimated effect of the intervention on the quality of life of residents was 3.54 (95% CI -0.83 to 7.90, p=0.10), expressed as the difference in mean improvement between intervention and control group. When the three sites that did not implement the intervention to residents as prescribed were removed for the analysis, per-protocol analysis yielded a significant effect. Estimated effect of the intervention on the quality of life of residents was 5.22 (95% CI 0.11 to 10.34, p=0.04), exceeding the 4-point minimal clinical important difference defined at the outset of the trial.
Conclusion
Reminiscence has the potential to make a positve impact on residents' Qol.
Authors
-
Fionnuala Jordan
(NUIG)
Topic Area
Lifecourse, older people or dementia
Session
OS-3B:1 » OS 3 life course (14:40 - Monday, 30th March, Classroom 1)
Presentation Files
The presenter has not uploaded any presentation files.
