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Optimizing communication between medical professionals and people living with dementia
Author(s)Tony Johnstone Young, Chris Manthorp, David Howells, Ellen Tullo
Journal titleInternational Psychogeriatrics, vol 23, no 7, September 2011
Pagespp 1078-1085
Sourcehttp://www.journals.cambridge.org/ipg
KeywordsDementia ; Medical care ; Medical workers ; Communication ; Communication skills ; Quality of life.
AnnotationA growing body of research evidence indicates that improving communication with people living with dementia (PLWD) has a positive effect on their quality of life. Policy initiatives internationally highlight the prevalence of poor communication practices in care environments in general and medical contexts in particular as priority areas for improvement. In this study a spectrum of multidisciplinary professional and lay stakeholders, including PLWD, took part in an iterative consultation process in the UK. This aimed to develop a communications advice package which would meet their needs, and involved observation of practice in a variety of care contexts and semi-structured focus group and individual interviews. Study findings revealed that lay participants were dissatisfied with current communicative practices, particularly during contact with medical professionals. Both lay and professional participants reported general dissatisfaction with currently available communication advice. An agreed version of a dementia toolkit for effective communication known as DEMTEC (Dementia Tookit for Effective Communication) was produced, consisting of three levels. The toolkit was found to have a potentially valuable role in dementia-specific training for both medical and other care professionals, particularly in the development of communication skills. (JL).
Accession NumberCPA-110913017 A
ClassmarkEA: LK: QT: U: UO: F:59

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