About this trial
Study Goal: Understand carers' needs when someone with dementia is in a mental health ward and develop strategies to support carers as partners in care.
Research Questions:
* What are mental health wards like in terms of staff, patients, and current carer support? * What do carers experience and need during admission, discharge, and beyond? * How do ward routines and staff practices affect carer involvement? * How can co-design turn research into practical strategies for carer support? * Can these strategies be implemented effectively?
Method: The investigators will survey mental health wards nationwide, interview carers from three UK wards, observe ward practices, and talk to staff. They will use this information to create and share practical strategies to improve carer support across the UK.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Ward managers of mental health wards that provides care to PLWD
Ward managers from NHS wards that provides care to PLWD
Ward managers from private providers that provides care to PLWD
Ward managers that work on organic or mixed wards that provides care to PLWD
Disqualifiers
Functional older adult mental health wards that do not provide care to PLWD
Staff members who are not the ward manager
Family member (any relationship) or friend of a PLWD currently receiving care on a mental health ward
Aged 18 years old or above
Trial population
People living with dementia, their carers and staff working on the mental health wards
Trial design
Other
Other
Treatments tested in this trial
Not listed
Trial groups
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
A national survey to map current care provision for people living with dementia admitted to a mental health ward across the UK
National mapping survey to gather data on the number/type of wards, patient and staff demographics and existing care provision for people living with dementia who are detained under the Mental Health Act and receiving care on a mental health ward.
Ethnographic observations to understand how carers are supported and involved in the care of their friend/relative with dementia receiving care on a mental health ward
Ethnographic observation of staff and family carers on the ward. The focus of the observations is on the organisation of care. Observations will take place from the corridor(s) of wards, in communal areas, typically at nursing stations or ward observation points. Short, 'in-situ' conversational interviews (around 5-10 minutes) will take place on the ward with staff. These will be unstructured conversations to capture 'in-the-moment' experiences. Observations and 'in-situ' conversations will be documented using a touch screen tablet device.
Interviews with current carers to understand their experiences and involvement in the care of their friend/relative with dementia who is receiving care on a mental health ward
Interviews with carers across 3 NHS sites in the UK, who currently have a friend/relative with dementia receiving care on a mental health ward (8 carers per ward = 24 carers in total). Carers will be interviewed at 3 timepoints over 12 months to understand their experiences over time. Total number of interviews = 72. The sample of carers will be identified by ward managers. A semi-structured interview schedule will be used following a narrative interview approach.
Interviews with discharged carers to understand their experiences and involvement in the care of their friend/relative with dementia who had previously received care on a mental health ward
Interviews with 'discharged' carers across 3 NHS sites, i.e. carers whose friend/relative with dementia had previously received care on a mental health ward and have been discharged from the ward within the last 3 years. 8 carers per ward = 24 interviews in total. The sample of carers will be identified via screening of ward records completed by ward managers at each ward. A letter and Participant Information Sheet (PIS) will be sent by post to invite discharged carers to participate in an interview. A semi-structured interview schedule will be used to capture their views and experiences.
Sponsors and contacts
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University of West London
Lead sponsor
University of Cambridge
Collaborator
University of Exeter
Collaborator