Department of Clinical Speech and Language Studies, Trinity College Dublin and Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, HSE-IEHG, St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Department of Geriatric Medicine, UCD, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin 4, Co. Dublin, Ireland.
Eur Geriatr Med. 2024 Feb;15(1):209-216. doi: 10.1007/s41999-023-00908-5. Epub 2023 Dec 27.
Conversation abilities of people with dementia are impacted by cognitive-communication deficits. Communication interventions can improve quality of life by increasing positive interactions and well-being. This study evaluates the feasibility of a conversation coaching intervention for people with dementia and their communication partners.
A mixed-method design was used. Thirty-four people were recruited over 12 months; 17 people with dementia and 17 communication partners. Participants with dementia were aged between 62 and 79 years (8 females, 9 males) and the communication partners were aged 33-77 years (5 males, 12 females). This conversation coaching intervention involved two assessment sessions (pre and post intervention) and 6 weekly sessions, alternating between individual and group-based sessions. These were facilitated by two experienced speech and language therapists with a three-month follow-up period. Participants were assessed initially and three months following intervention using Profiling Communication Ability in Dementia (P-CAD), Goal Attainment Scaling, and Capability Index for Older people (ICECAP-O).
Twenty-eight participants completed the conversation coaching intervention. P-CAD scores for people with dementia were maintained at three months for 71% (n = 10) showing no decline in function and 29% (n = 4) showed improvement. Using the Goal Attainment Scaling, all people with dementia and their communication partners reported that this conversation coaching intervention helped them achieve their individual communication goals. Ten (71%) people with dementia rated their well-being as higher on the ICE-CAP-O following intervention with 29% (n = 4) rating no change in well-being from initial assessment. Over three-quarters of communication partners, (79%: n = 11), reported an increased sense of well-being following intervention and 21% (n = 3) had no change in well-being.
Preliminary outcomes including participant feedback indicate that this conversation coaching intervention is feasible for people with dementia. The communication function and well-being of people with dementia were either maintained or improved. Conversation coaching intervention is collaborative and enhances the retained communication abilities of people living with dementia.
痴呆症患者的会话能力受到认知-沟通缺陷的影响。沟通干预可以通过增加积极的互动和幸福感来提高生活质量。本研究评估了针对痴呆症患者及其沟通伙伴的会话辅导干预的可行性。
采用混合方法设计。在 12 个月内招募了 34 名参与者；17 名痴呆症患者和 17 名沟通伙伴。患有痴呆症的参与者年龄在 62 至 79 岁之间（8 名女性，9 名男性），沟通伙伴的年龄在 33 至 77 岁之间（5 名男性，12 名女性）。该会话辅导干预包括两次评估（干预前和干预后）和 6 次每周会议，交替进行个体和小组会议。由两名经验丰富的言语治疗师进行辅导，为期三个月的随访期。参与者在初始评估和干预后三个月使用痴呆症沟通能力评估量表（P-CAD）、目标达成量表和老年人能力指数（ICECAP-O）进行评估。
28 名参与者完成了会话辅导干预。71%（n=10）的痴呆症患者的 P-CAD 评分在三个月时保持不变，表明功能没有下降，29%（n=4）的评分有所提高。使用目标达成量表，所有痴呆症患者及其沟通伙伴都报告说，这种会话辅导干预帮助他们实现了个人的沟通目标。10 名（71%）痴呆症患者在干预后对自己的幸福感评价更高，29%（n=4）的患者表示幸福感与初始评估相比没有变化。超过四分之三的沟通伙伴（79%：n=11）报告说，干预后他们的幸福感有所提高，21%（n=3）的幸福感没有变化。
初步结果包括参与者的反馈表明，这种会话辅导干预对痴呆症患者是可行的。痴呆症患者的沟通功能和幸福感得到了维持或改善。会话辅导干预是协作性的，增强了患有痴呆症的人的保留沟通能力。
