School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Aust J Rural Health. 2023 Aug;31(4):680-689. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12988. Epub 2023 Apr 17.
Family carers play a crucial role in dementia care. As the condition progresses, people with dementia become increasingly dependent on their carers for all areas of daily living. The risk of carer burnout is significant. One of the more stressful events for family carers is when hospital admission is required for the person they care for. Living in regional Australia adds complexity to the experience. Hospital and health services in regional Australia could use a greater understanding of the issues associated with hospital care to inform patient and carer management, improve outcomes for this population and support the goal of 'ageing in place'.
To explore the experience of carers of people with dementia in regional Australia when hospital care or treatment was required for the person they provide care for.
Six family carers living in regional Australia participated in this interpretative phenological study. Individual, semistructured interviews were held and transcribed verbatim shortly after. Data analysis occurred via three key processes: reading and highlighting, coding and grouping, which yielded the major themes and subthemes of the study.
Three major themes and nine subthemes emerged from data analysis. The major themes were: (i) support and supply of specialist care; (ii) travel needs and negotiations; and (iii) empathy and experience make a difference.
Findings from this study highlight aspects of care that healthcare providers can address to improve outcomes for patients with dementia and their carers. Carers need opportunities to seek clarification and provide input on care plans. Good communication, involvement and relationship building between healthcare staff and carers are vital to achieving optimal patient outcomes. Staff training supporting understanding of appropriate dementia care is essential for improved patient and carer outcomes.
Factors related to regional location, including lack of specialist care and support, compound carers' challenges. Healthcare provider education on dementia care and dementia-friendly processes in hospitals will support optimal patient and carers outcomes.
家庭护理人员在痴呆症护理中起着至关重要的作用。随着病情的发展，痴呆症患者在日常生活的各个方面越来越依赖护理人员。护理人员倦怠的风险很大。对于家庭护理人员来说，更具压力的事件之一是他们所照顾的人需要住院治疗。居住在澳大利亚偏远地区会使这种经历更加复杂。澳大利亚偏远地区的医院和医疗服务机构可以更深入地了解与住院护理相关的问题，从而为患者和护理人员的管理提供信息，改善该人群的治疗效果，并支持“就地养老”的目标。
探讨澳大利亚偏远地区痴呆症患者的护理人员在需要为其提供护理的人住院治疗或接受治疗时的体验。
本解释性现象学研究共纳入 6 名居住在澳大利亚偏远地区的家庭护理人员。在访谈结束后不久，对他们进行了单独的半结构化访谈，并逐字记录下来。数据分析通过三个关键过程进行：阅读和重点标注、编码和分组，这产生了研究的主要主题和子主题。
从数据分析中得出了三个主要主题和九个子主题。这些主要主题包括：（i）专业护理的支持和供应；（ii）出行需求和协商；（iii）同理心和经验的作用。
本研究的结果强调了医疗保健提供者可以解决的一些护理方面的问题，以改善痴呆症患者及其护理人员的治疗效果。护理人员需要有机会澄清并对护理计划提出意见。医护人员与护理人员之间良好的沟通、参与和关系建立对于实现患者的最佳治疗效果至关重要。支持理解适当的痴呆症护理的员工培训对于改善患者和护理人员的治疗效果至关重要。
与地区位置相关的因素，包括缺乏专业护理和支持，增加了护理人员的挑战。对痴呆症护理和医院内的痴呆症友好流程进行医疗保健提供者教育，将支持最佳的患者和护理人员治疗效果。
