Agreement between patients' and proxies' reports of quality of life in Alzheimer's disease

Validation of the Japanese version of the quality of life-Alzheimer's disease for nursing homes

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to validate the Japanese version of Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease for Nursing Homes (QOL-AD NH). This is the modified version of QOL-AD, initially developed for residents living with dementia in long-term care settings.

METHODS

Psychometric assessment was conducted in a sample of 101 residents and their professional care staff to obtain self-ratings and proxy-ratings of QOL, respectively. Residents' behavior was observed using Dementia Care Mapping (DCM) method, and their mood/engagement (ME) value was evaluated as a proxy measure of QOL.

RESULTS

Self-ratings were higher than proxy-ratings (t = 10.22, p<.001), with moderate correlation (r=.51, p<.001) and strong internal consistency (α=.87 for both). The exact agreement between the two groups was 38.23%. Convergent validity was confirmed with ME value and positive engagements of DCM. Exploratory factor analysis was performed for further validity testing. Three factors - self and life overall, social environment, and physical and psychological health, accounted for 85.9% of the total variance with Cronbach's α of .87, .73, .90, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Using a validated Japanese version of the QOL-AD NH may help assess the QOL of older residents living in long-term care settings to improve the continuum of care for dementia.

Does awareness of condition help people with mild-to-moderate dementia to live well? Findings from the IDEAL programme

Background

People living with dementia vary in awareness of their abilities. We explored awareness of the condition and diagnosis in people with mild-to-moderate dementia, and how this relates to quality of life, well-being, life satisfaction, and caregiver stress.

Methods

This study was a cross-sectional exploratory analysis of data from the IDEAL cohort, which recruited people with dementia living at home and available caregivers from 29 research sites in Great Britain. Our study included 917 people with mild-to-moderate dementia and 755 carers. Low and high awareness groups were derived from self-reported responses to a dementia representation measure. Logistic regression was used to explore predictors of awareness of condition and diagnosis using demographic, cognitive, functional and psychological measures, and the relationship with quality of life, well-being and life satisfaction (‘living well’), and caregiver stress.

Results

There were 83 people with low awareness of their condition. The remaining 834 people showed some awareness and 103 of these had high awareness of their condition and diagnosis. Psychosocial factors were stronger predictors of awareness than cognitive and functional ability. Those with higher awareness reported lower mood, and lower scores on indices of living well as well as lower optimism, self-efficacy and self-esteem. Low awareness was more likely in those aged 80y and above, and living in more socially deprived areas. No relationship was seen between caregiver stress and awareness.

Conclusions

Awareness of the condition and diagnosis varies in people with mild-to-moderate dementia and is relevant to the capability to live well. Awareness should be considered in person-centered clinical care.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-021-02468-4.

Evaluation of Swallowing Function according to the Stage of Alzheimer's Disease

BACKGROUND

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and swallowing difficulties may occur as the disease progresses. Dysphagia has many consequences, such as aspiration and pneumonia. In particular, in the advanced stage, approximately 70% of the causes of death in AD involve aspiration pneumonia. Therefore, it is vital to assess the presence or absence of dysphagia in AD.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to describe swallowing difficulty across the stages of AD.

METHODS

Thirty-five AD patients were evaluated. The Mini-Mental State Examination was conducted. A bedside water swallow test (BWST) and the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) were administered. Finally, fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was used to evaluate residual, aspiration and penetration conditions.

RESULTS

EAT-10 scores, BWST results, and penetration-aspiration status were statistically significantly different according to AD stage (p < 0.05). Among all patients, 74.3% had residue, 25.7% had penetration, and 2.9% had aspiration.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has demonstrated that swallowing dysfunction begins at a mild stage and progressively worsens toward the advanced stage in patients with AD. At all stages of AD, residue was observed, and this poses a risk for the development of penetration-aspiration. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the early dysphagia of individuals.

How Is Quality of Life Assessed in People With Dementia? A Systematic Literature Review and a Primer for Speech-Language Pathologists

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine how quality of life (QoL) is measured in people with dementia involved in interventions designed to improve well-being and to explore how those measures align with principles of person-centered care. Method A systematic literature review was conducted utilizing PsychInfo, CINAHL, and PubMed and combinations of the search terms: "dementia," "outcome measure," "creative engagement," "creative intervention," "TimeSlips," "art," "quality of life," and "well-being." The search was limited to studies published in peer-reviewed journals that reported outcomes for people with dementia in response to a creative intervention. Results Across the 24 reviewed studies, 30 different outcome measures were reported including eight self-reported, nine observational, and 13 proxy-reported measures. Self-report of QoL was elicited 16 times, observational measures were reported 17 times, and proxy-reported measures were used 28 times. All measures were used with participants across the dementia severity spectrum. Conclusion Current clinical practice of QoL evaluation does not align well with person-centered care principles of self-determination based on the low proportion of self-report. The previously reported limitations of proxy-report have been in part confirmed with this study. Implications of the findings for speech-language pathologists are discussed.

Quality of life and caregiver burden in familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration: Analyses of symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals within the LEFFTDS cohort

OBJECTIVE

The Longitudinal Evaluation of Familial Frontotemporal Dementia Subjects evaluates familial frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) kindreds with MAPT, GRN, or C9orf72 mutations. Objectives were to examine whether health-related quality of life (HRQoL) correlates with clinical symptoms and caregiver burden, and whether self-rated and informant-rated HRQoL would correlate with each other.

METHODS

Individuals were classified using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR® ) Scale plus National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) FTLD. HRQoL was measured with DEMQOL and DEMQOL-proxy; caregiver burden with the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI). For analysis, Pearson correlations and weighted kappa statistics were calculated.

RESULTS

The cohort of 312 individuals included symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. CDR® plus NACC FTLD was negatively correlated with DEMQOL (r = -0.20, P = .001), as were ZBI and DEMQOL (r = -0.22, P = .0009). There was fair agreement between subject and informant DEMQOL (κ = 0.36, P <.0001).

CONCLUSION

Lower HRQoL was associated with higher cognitive/behavior impairment and higher caregiver burden. These findings demonstrate the negative impact of FTLD on individuals and caregivers.

Predictors of Satisfaction with Care Services among Family Members of Older Adult Residents of Long-Term Care Facilities

This study identified predictors of satisfaction with care services among family members of older adults residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the participants were 330 family members of older adult residents of LTCFs in Seoul, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Gyeongbuk, and Chungnam, Korea. Data were collected from July to October 2018 using a structured self-report questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-testing, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis testing, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and hierarchical multiple regressions. The most important predictors of satisfaction with care services were satisfaction with the physical housing environment (β = 0.49, p < 0.001), caregiving stress (β = -0.30, p < 0.001), the facility's size (β = -0.13, p = 0.001), the number of visits to the facility (β = -0.10, p = 0.024), and the number of family members who participated in the decision to place the relative in a facility (β = 0.09, p = 0.033). This study is significant because it provides fundamental data for qualitatively improving care services in LTCFs. Based on the results, strategies should be developed to relieve caregiving stress among family members and improve satisfaction with the physical housing environment.

Optimizing Quality of Life With Cognitive Impairment: A Study of End-of-Life Care in Assisted Living

OBJECTIVES

Assisted living (AL) is an expanding site of end-of-life (EOL) care in the United States. Understanding determinants of quality of life (QoL) for AL residents near EOL is vital to optimize care for this growing population, most of whom have some degree of cognitive impairment (CI). This analysis aimed to identify factors associated with QoL in a diverse sample of AL residents with CI approaching EOL.

DESIGN

Observational cross-section design.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data are from a 5-year study funded by the National Institute on Aging examining EOL care of residents in 7 diverse AL communities in metropolitan Atlanta (n = 67).

METHODS

CI was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (scores ≤ 26) and QoL was determined with the self-reported QoL in Alzheimer's disease survey adapted for use in AL. Psychological distress was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 and fatigue was assessed using the 13-item Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue Scale. Initial descriptive analyses were followed by backward stepwise regression analyses to select a best-fitting model of QoL.

RESULTS

The final model predicted 27% of the variance in QoL. CI was not significantly correlated with QoL and was not retained in the final model. Pain and functional limitation also did not meet inclusion criteria (P ≤ .10) and were sequentially removed, producing a final model of QoL in terms of psychological distress (β = -0.28, P = .032), fatigue (β = -0.26, P = .048), and race (β = 0.21, P = .063).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The lack of a significant correlation between degree of CI and self-reported QoL suggests that AL residents have the potential to experience high QoL, despite CI. Interventions to reduce psychological distress and manage fatigue could be implemented during EOL care to attempt to improve QoL for AL residents with CI. The correlation between race and QoL warrants investigation into possible racial disparities in AL and EOL care.

Does exercise program of endurance and strength improve health-related quality of life in persons living with HIV-related distal symmetrical polyneuropathy? A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

The most common HIV neurological comorbidity, Distal Symmetrical Peripheral Neuropathy (DSPN), is characterized by severe symptoms and reduced quality of life. Exercise has consistently been mentioned as one of the non-pharmacological therapies for the rehabilitation of individuals with HIV, but little is known about an exercise program to recommend to people living with HIV (PLWHIV)-related DSPN. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of aerobic (AE) or progressive resisted exercise (PRE) on quality of life (QOL) in a person living with HIV-related DSPN.

METHOD

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 136 persons living with HIV-related Neuropathy, including 6 domains of QOL within WHOQOL-BREF, 45 in the AE (used ergometer), 44 in the PRE (used quadriceps bench), and 47 in the control group (CG). The outcome measures (QOL) data were analyzed using the inferential statistic of Friedman for within-group with post hoc analysis of Wilcoxon signed Test. A Kruskal-Wallis test was carried out for between-groups with post hoc analysis of Mann-Whitney to find where significant differences exist.

RESULTS

The results indicated significant differences within experimental groups in all six domains p < 0.05. Similarly, the result indicated significant differences within the CG in Physical, level of independence, and Spirituality/Religions domains (p = 0.002, p = 0.035, p = 0.006). However, the results indicated significant differences between experimental groups and CG.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that strength and endurance exercise of moderate intensity have a positive effect on QOL in PLWHIV-related DSPN. Clinical trial No. http://apps.who.int/trialsearch/default.aspx (PACTR201707002173240).

A comparison of self and proxy quality of life ratings for people with dementia and their carers: a European prospective cohort study

Objectives: To identify correlates of self-rated and proxy-rated quality of life (QoL) in people with dementia on (i) a dementia-specific and (ii) a capability-wellbeing QoL measure at baseline and 12-month follow-up, and to consider such factors in the context of QoL intervention development.Method: Prospective clinical and demographic data were collected from 451 community-dwelling dyads (mild-moderate dementia) across eight European countries. QoL was measured using the QOL-AD and the ICECAP-O. Multivariate modelling identified correlates of self- and proxy-rated QoL at baseline and at 12-month follow-up.Results: Carer's proxy-ratings of QoL were significantly lower than self-ratings at all time-points for both measures. Proxy-ratings declined over time, but self-ratings remained stable. Baseline predictors of greater self-rated QoL were education, and greater functional ability and relationship quality. Greater proxy-rated QoL was associated with education and greater functional ability, relationship quality, carer social support and carer QoL, lower carer anxiety/depression and less severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with dementia. At follow-up, greater self-rated QoL was predicted by greater functional ability, relationship quality, carer social support and having a spousal carer. Greater proxy-rated QoL at follow-up was associated with the same factors as at baseline; however, the dyad living together was an additional predictive factor.Conclusion: Both proxy-ratings and self-ratings of QoL should be interpreted with caution and in the context of each individual caregiving relationship. Different functional, psychosocial, relational and contextual factors influence self- and proxy-ratings, and both sets of factors should be considered in the context of QoL intervention development for the dyad.

Comparing proxy rated quality of life of people living with dementia in care homes

BACKGROUND

Improving quality of life (QOL) for people with dementia is a priority. In care homes, we often rely on proxy ratings from staff and family but we do not know if, or how, they differ in care homes.

METHODS

We compared 1056 pairs of staff and family DEMQOL-Proxy ratings from 86 care homes across England. We explored factors associated with ratings quantitatively using multilevel modelling and, qualitatively, through thematic analysis of 12 staff and 12 relative interviews.

RESULTS

Staff and family ratings were weakly correlated (ρs = 0.35). Median staff scores were higher than family's (104 v. 101; p < 0.001). Family were more likely than staff to rate resident QOL as 'Poor' (χ2 = 55.91, p < 0.001). Staff and family rated QOL higher when residents had fewer neuropsychiatric symptoms and severe dementia. Staff rated QOL higher in homes with lower staff:resident ratios and when staff were native English speakers. Family rated QOL higher when the resident had spent longer living in the care home and was a native English. Spouses rated residents' QOL higher than other relatives. Qualitative results suggest differences arise because staff felt good care provided high QOL but families compared the present to the past. Family judgements centre on loss and are complicated by decisions about care home placement and their understandings of dementia.

CONCLUSION

Proxy reports differ systematically between staff and family. Reports are influenced by the rater:staff and family may conceptualise QOL differently.

Quality of care reported by proxies – Does resident cognition count?

Resident self-reports are considered the primary source of quality of care information, but proxy reports by family or staff can also be used to supplement or substitute resident reports. This study analyses how the results of proxy reports vary according to residents’ cognition level. The data set used covers proxy reports of family ( n = 558) and staff ( n = 801), divided by the availability of resident self-reports (family yes n = 289, no n = 269; staff yes 393, no = 408). Family and staff proxies assessed residents’ quality of care as better when resident self-reports were also available, and quality of care tended to be assessed as poorer among those with higher cognitive decline. The results of this methodological study indicate the importance of using several proxy evaluations; however, these can only supplement resident self-reports, not replace them. The interpretation rules acknowledging dependency between residents’ cognition and proxy assessments could be used as a basis for future comparisons of quality improvement in long-term care and for painting a more comprehensive picture of service quality.

Determinants of self- and carer-rated quality of life and caregiver burden in Alzheimer disease

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate factors associated with self- and carer-rated quality of life (QoL) and caregiver burden related to very mild to severe clinical Alzheimer disease (AD).

METHODS

One hundred patient-carer dyads were recruited, and assessments of relevant outcomes were performed, including sociodemographic characteristics, QoL, activities of daily living (ADL), cognitive performance, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), caregiver burden, and health resource utilisation.

RESULTS

There was a strong correlation between carer- and self-rated QoL, with patients consistently rating their QoL higher than caregivers. Duration of illness did not affect the QoL ratings. There was an inverse association between both self- and carer-rated QoL with age, age at symptom onset, impairment of ADL, time spent on assisting the patient, and depression. Both self- and carer-rated QoL ratings were higher if the caregiver was a spouse vs a child. Carer-rated QoL was inversely associated with severity of dementia, BPSD, caregiver burden, and requirement to supervise the patient. The variables age at symptom onset, ADL, and living together with the primary caregiver explained 34.50% of the variance in self-rated QoL, whereas age at symptom onset, ADL, and BPSD explained 48.20% of the variance in carer-rated QoL. For caregiver burden, 26% of the variance was explained by the variables ADL, living together with the primary caregiver, and agitation.

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights the need for a stronger focus on QoL in clinical AD research by providing further pieces of evidence on the key determinants, including the important aspect of caregiver burden.

Surrogate Preferences on the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Form

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study is to compare treatment preferences of patients to those of surrogates on the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) forms.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Data were collected from a sequential selection of 606 Massachusetts POLST (MOLST) forms at 3 hospitals, and corresponding electronic patient health records. Selections on the MOLST forms were categorized into All versus Limit Life-Sustaining Treatment. Multivariable mixed effects (grouped by clinician) logistic regression models estimated the impact of using a surrogate decision maker on choosing All Treatment, controlling for patient characteristics (age, severity of illness, sex, race/ethnicity), clinician (physician vs non-physician), and hospital (site).

RESULTS

Surrogates signed 253 of the MOLSTs (43%). A multivariable logistic regression model taking into consideration patient, clinician, and site variables showed that surrogate decision makers were 60% less likely to choose All Treatment than patients who made their own decisions (odds ratio = 0.39 [95% confidence interval = 0.24-0.65]; p < .001). This model explained 44% of the variation in the dependent variable (Pseudo-R2 = 0.442; p < .001); mixed effects logistic regression grouped by clinician showed no difference between the models (LR test = 4.0e-13; p = 1.00).

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Our study took into consideration variation at the patient, clinician, and site level, and showed that surrogates had a propensity to limit life-sustaining treatment. Surrogate decision makers are frequently needed for hospitalized patients, and nearly all states have adopted the POLST. Researchers may want study decision-making processes for patients versus surrogates when the POLST paradigm is employed.

Health-related quality-of-life assessment in dementia: Evidence of cross-cultural validity in Latin America

All health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) measures for dementia have been developed in high-income countries and none were validated for cross-cultural use. Yet, the global majority of people living with dementia reside in low- and middle-income countries. We therefore investigated the measurement invariance of a set of self- and informant-report HRQL measures developed in the United Kingdom when used in Latin America. Self-reported HRQL was obtained using (DEMQOL) at a memory assessment service in the United Kingdom (n = 868) and a population cohort study in Latin America (n = 417). Informant reports were collected using DEMQOL-Proxy at both sites (n = 909 and n = 495). Multiple-group confirmatory bifactor models for ordered categorical item responses were estimated to evaluate measurement invariance. Results support configural, metric, and scalar invariance for the concept of general HRQL in DEMQOL and DEMQOL-Proxy. The dominant impact of general HRQL on item responses was evident across U.K. English and Ibero American Spanish versions of DEMQOL (ω_h = 0.87–0.90) and DEMQOL-Proxy (ω_h = 0.88–0.89). Ratings of “positive emotion” did not show a major impact on general HRQL appraisal, particularly for Latin American respondents. Item information curves show that self- and informant-reports were highly informative about the presence rather than the absence of HRQL impairment. We found no major difference in conceptual meaning, sensitivity, and relevance of DEMQOL and DEMQOL-Proxy for older adults in the United Kingdom and Latin America. Further replication is needed for consensus over which HRQL measures are appropriate for making cross-national comparisons in global dementia research.

Measuring health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) in older adults living with dementia is important to quantify their burden of disease. Globally more than half of these adults live in low- and middle-income countries, but all HRQL measures for dementia originate from high-income countries. Our study is the first to show for a self- and informant-report HRQL instrument (DEMQOL) that the appraisals are comparable across U.K. (English) and Latin American (Spanish) community samples.

Quality of Life in People with Young-Onset Alzheimer's Dementia and Frontotemporal Dementia

AIMS

The aims of this study were to compare quality of life (QOL) in people with young-onset Alzheimer's (AD) and frontotemporal (FTD) dementia, explore variables associated with QOL, and compare QOL in young-onset dementia (YOD) and late-onset dementia (LOD).

METHODS

Cross-sectional data from a Nordic multicenter study of 50 community-dwelling participants with AD and 38 with FTD were included. A comparison group consisted of 100 people with LOD. QOL was measured using self-reported Euro-QOL 5-Dimension and the proxy version of Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) questionnaire. Neuropsychiatric symptoms and needs were assessed using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), and Camberwell Assessment of Needs in the Elderly. Multiple linear regression and multilevel modeling was used to determine variables associated with QOL.

RESULTS

We found no differences between the two YOD groups in QOL. The variables associated with QOL were scores on the CSDD, NPI, and unmet needs. The proxy QOL-AD score in YOD was significantly higher compared to LOD (median 36.0 [IQR 10.0] vs. 33.0 [IQR 9.0]).

CONCLUSION

The QOL in Nordic people with YOD was better compared to people with LOD. Our results show depressive symptoms to be associated with QOL irrespective of age and diagnosis.

[Agreement in the responses to self-reported and proxy-reported versions of QOL-HC: a new quality-of-life scale for patients receiving home-based medical care]

AIM

We developed quality-of-life (QOL) scales for patients receiving home medical care. The objective of this study was to examine the agreement between the scores of the scales answered by patients and those answered by their proxy, as cognitive decline may interfere with one's ability to understand complex topics, such as the QOL.

METHODS

Participants were pairs of patients receiving home medical care and their proxy. The patients were asked to complete self-reported QOL scales (QOL-HC), and their proxies were asked to complete proxy-reported versions of the QOL scales (QOL-HC for caregivers). We then statistically examined the extent of agreement between the self- and proxy-reported QOL-HC scores using contingency tables and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. The SPSS software program, version 24, was used for all statistical analyses.

RESULTS

The concordance rate between patients and caregivers for questions 1 ( "Do you have peace of mind?" ), 2 ( "Do you feel satisfied with your life when you reflect on it?" ), 3 ( "Do you have someone that you spend time talking with?" ), and 4 ( "Are you satisfied with the home care service system?" ) were 52.3%, 52.3%, 79.5%, and 81.8%, respectively. The total scores for the patients and caregivers were significantly correlated (Spearman's ρ=0.364*).

CONCLUSIONS

We created the first QOL scale for patients receiving home-based medical care and for caregivers. The findings of this study suggest that the QOL-HC can be used in clinical practice for the assessment of patients receiving professional home care.

A randomised controlled trial to evaluate the impact of a human rights based approach to dementia care in inpatient ward and care home settings

Background

Although it is widely recognised that adopting a person-centred approach is beneficial in the care of people living with dementia, a gap remains between the rhetoric and the reality of quality care. Some widely adopted care practices can result in the personhood of this group being threatened and their human rights being undermined.

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of applying a human rights based approach in dementia inpatient wards and care homes on the quality of care delivered and the well-being of the person living with dementia.

Design

A cluster randomised design was employed to compare the impact of implementing a human rights based approach intervention (i.e. training, applying the ‘Getting It Right’ assessment tool and receiving booster sessions) at 10 intervention sites with 10 control sites.

Setting

Eight NHS dementia inpatient wards and 12 care homes in the north-west of England.

Participants

People living with dementia who were residing on dementia inpatient wards or in care homes, and staff working at these sites. The aim was to recruit 280 people living with dementia.

Interventions

A sample of staff (an average of 8.9 per site) at each of the sites was trained in a human rights based approach to care, including the application of the ‘Getting It Right’ assessment tool. The tool was then introduced at the site and monthly booster sessions were delivered.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome measure used in the research was the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease scale to assess the subjective well-being of the person with dementia. Secondary outcome measures included measures of the quality of care provided (dementia care mapping) and direct measures of the effectiveness of the training in increasing knowledge of and attitudes towards human rights. The study also included an economic evaluation utilising the EuroQol-5 Dimensions, three-level version, and the Adult Social Care Outcomes Toolkit measure.

Results

The study recruited 439 people living with dementia: 213 to the intervention arm and 226 to the control arm. Primary outcome data were analysed using a linear mixed model. There were no significant differences found in the reported quality of life of residents between the control and intervention groups after the intervention [F(1,16.51) = 3.63;p = 0.074]. The mean difference between the groups was 1.48 (95% confidence interval –7.86 to 10.82).

Conclusions

Despite the fact that the training increased staff knowledge of and positive attitudes towards human rights, and although there were some changes in staff decision-making strategies in clinical situations, there was no change in the quality of care provided or in the reported well-being of people living with dementia in these settings. This led to questions about the efficacy of training in bringing about cultural change and improving care practices.

Limitations

There was limited uptake of the training and booster sessions that were integral to the intervention.

Future work

Future work could usefully focus on understanding the difficulty in translating change in attitude and knowledge into behaviour.

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN94553028.

Funding

This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Services and Delivery Research programme and will be published in full inHealth Services and Delivery Research; Vol. 6, No. 13. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Everyday memory problems in alcohol abuse and dependence: Frequency, patterns and patient-proxy agreement

Using self-report to assess everyday memory in alcoholics presents challenges given the presence of both memory and metamemory deficits. Accordingly, evaluation of the reliability and validity of proxy ratings as well as the frequency of these memory lapses are of clinical importance. In the present study, 180 patient-proxy dyads completed the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ). 31.7% of proxy-rated versus 2.8% of patient-rated prospective memory scores fell in the impaired to below average range. 15% of proxy-rated retrospective memory scores were below average, whereas none of the patients reported problems in this regard. Longer delays between intention formation and action yielded better prospective memory performance, while the opposite was true for retrospective memory. Agreement between patients and proxies was generally poor to fair across severity levels and the magnitude of observed differences was large (standardized response mean > 0.8). For all PRMQ items, exact agreement occurred in 45.3% of the cases. Larger patient-proxy discrepancy was associated with older age, less education and greater disease severity. Proxy ratings were internally consistent, significantly correlated with objective memory performance, and were sensitive to differences in overall PRMQ performance between severity groups. Caution should be used in the interpretations of patients' reports.

Evaluating the consequences of rheumatoid arthritis

Patients and non-patients tend to attach different utility values to the state of suffering from specific illnesses. This observation naturally leads to the question whose utility values should be used as the basis in cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). Intuitively, one would presume that patients are better informed about the consequences of their illness, and public authorities should, therefore, use the patients' utility values in CEA. Contrary to this presumption, it has been argued that society at large should determine which values are to be used and not the patients because, in the end, it is societal resources that are to be allocated. Against this background, we use data from a discrete choice experiment (DCE) that was completed by patients of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and non-patients to explore the discrepancies between the two groups' utility estimates for typical consequences of RA. Our results indicate that both groups attach remarkably similar part-worth utilities to the symptoms pain, fatigue, and functional limitations. However, non-patients significantly undervalue the ability to work when compared to patients.

End-of-Life Care and Quality of Dying in 23 Acute Geriatric Hospital Wards in Flanders, Belgium

OBJECTIVES

To describe the nursing and medical interventions performed in the last 48 hours of life and the quality of dying of patients dying in acute geriatric hospital wards.

METHODS

Cross-sectional descriptive study between October 1, 2012 and September 30, 2013. Twenty-three acute geriatric wards in 13 hospitals in Flanders, Belgium. Patients hospitalized for more than 48 hours before dying in the participating wards. Structured after-death questionnaires, filled out by the nurse, the physician, and the family carer most involved in end-of-life care. Main outcome measures were several nursing and medical interventions reported to be performed in the last 48 hours of life and the quality of dying.

RESULTS

Of 993 patients, we included 338 (mean age 85.7 years; 173 women). Almost 58% had dementia and nearly half were unable to communicate in the last 48 hours of their life. The most frequently continued or started nursing and medical interventions in the last 48 hours of life were measuring temperature (91.6%), repositioning (83.3%), washing (89.5%), oxygen therapy (49.7%), and intravenous fluids and nutrition (30%). Shortness of breath, lack of serenity, lack of peace, and lack of calm were symptoms reported most frequently by nurses and family carers.

CONCLUSION

Many nursing and medical interventions are continued or started in the last hours of a patient's life, which may not always be in their best interests. Furthermore, patients dying in acute geriatric wards are often affected by several symptoms.

Proxy rated quality of life of care home residents with dementia: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome for people with dementia living in care homes but usually needs to be rated by a proxy. We do not know if relative or paid carer proxy reports differ. We conducted the first systematic review and meta-analysis of data investigating whether and how these proxy reports of QoL differ.

METHODS

We searched four databases: Medline, Embase, PsychInfo, and CINAHL in October 2015 with the terms: dementia, QoL, proxy, and care home. Included studies either compared proxy QoL ratings or investigated the factors associated with them. We meta-analyzed data comparing staff and family proxy rated QoL.

RESULTS

We included 17/105 papers identified. We found no difference between global proxy ratings of QoL (n = 1,290; pooled effect size 0.06 (95% CI = -0.08 to 0.19)). Studies investigating factors associated with ratings (n = 3,537) found family and staff ratings correlated with the resident's physical and mental health. Staff who were more distressed rated resident QoL lower. Relatives rated it lower when the resident had lived in the care home for longer, when they observed more restraint, or contributed more to fees.

CONCLUSIONS

Relatives and staff proxy QoL ratings share a clear relationship to resident health and overall ratings were similar. Rater-specific factors were, however, also associated with scores. Understanding why different raters consider the QoL of the same person differently is an important consideration when evaluating the meaning of proxy rated QoL. Proxy raters' backgrounds may affect their rating of QoL.

Patient-rated versus proxy-rated cognitive and functional measures in older adults

OBJECTIVES

Patients with cognitive impairment may have difficulty reporting their functional and cognitive abilities, which are important clinical outcomes. Health care proxies may be able to corroborate patient self-reports. Several studies reported discrepancy between patient and proxy ratings, though the literature is sparse on changes over time of these ratings. Our goals in this 12-month study were to compare patient and proxy reports on functioning, cognition, and everyday executive function, and to further elucidate correlates of patient-proxy discrepancy.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of individuals older than 70 years who ranged from having no cognitive impairment to having moderate dementia who had a proxy available to complete instruments at baseline (N=76). Measurements included Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-ADLI), Neuro-QOL Executive Function, PROMIS Applied Cognition (PROMIS-Cog), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and Geriatric Depression Scale.

RESULTS

Patient- and proxy-rated ADCS-ADLI were correlated at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Patient and proxy ratings were discrepant on Neuro-QOL Executive Function and PROMIS-Cog. Greater patient-proxy discrepancy on PROMIS-Cog was associated with younger age and less depression, and greater patient-proxy discrepancy on Neuro-QOL Executive Function was associated with less depression and worse cognitive impairment. Patient-proxy discrepancy increased over time for everyday executive function. Changes in proxy-rated but not patient-rated ADCS-ADLI correlated with MMSE changes.

CONCLUSION

Patients and proxies generally agree in reporting on activities of daily living. Patient and proxy reports differ in their respective evaluation of cognitive functioning and everyday executive function. Ratings from both sources may be preferred for these two domains, though studies using gold standard measures are necessary. It is important that clinicians are aware of the differences between patient and proxy perspective to create an accurate clinical picture and guide treatment.

Reliability of health-related quality-of-life assessments made by older adults and significant others for health states of increasing cognitive impairment

Background

Older adults are encouraged by many organizations to engage in advance care planning in the event of decisional incapacity. Planning for future health care often involves anticipating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in states of reduced cognitive functioning. No study has yet examined whether anticipated HRQoL is stable over time. The accuracy with which significant others can predict how an older adult envisions HRQoL in a future state of cognitive impairment is also unknown. We investigated the extent to which health-related quality-of-life ratings made by older adults and designated proxies for health states of increasing cognitive impairment are consistent over time and agree with each other.

Methods

Results are based on HRQoL ratings made on a 5-point Likert scale by 235 community-based elder-proxy dyads on three occasions. Ratings were obtained for the older adult’s current health state as well as under the assumption that he/she had a mild to moderate stroke, incurable brain cancer or severe dementia. Data were analyzed using both traditional approaches (e.g., intraclass correlation coefficients, Bland-Altman plots) and the theory of generalizability.

Results

We found ratings to be reasonably consistent over time and in good agreement within dyads, even more so as implied cognitive functioning worsened. Across health states, ratings over time or within elder-proxy dyads were no more than one category apart in over 87% of cases. Using the theory of generalizability, we further found that, of the two facets investigated, rater had a greater influence on score variability than occasion.

Conclusions

These findings underscore the importance of discussing health-related quality-of-life issues during advance care planning and involving designated proxies in the discussion to enhance their understanding of the role that HRQoL should play in actual decision-making situations. Medical decision-making may be influenced by healthcare providers’ and family members’ assessments of an incapacitated patient’s health-related quality of life, in addition to that of the designated proxy. Future studies should investigate whether these two groups of individuals share the views of the patient and the designated proxy on anticipated HRQoL.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12955-016-0579-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Quality-of-life assessment in dementia: the use of DEMQOL and DEMQOL-Proxy total scores

PURPOSE

There is a need to determine whether health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) assessments in dementia capture what is important, to form a coherent basis for guiding research and clinical and policy decisions. This study investigated structural validity of HRQL assessments made using the DEMQOL system, with particular interest in studying domains that might be central to HRQL, and the external validity of these HRQL measurements.

METHODS

HRQL of people with dementia was evaluated by 868 self-reports (DEMQOL) and 909 proxy reports (DEMQOL-Proxy) at a community memory service. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) were conducted using bifactor models to investigate domains that might be central to general HRQL. Reliability of the general and specific factors measured by the bifactor models was examined using omega (ω) and omega hierarchical (ω h) coefficients. Multiple-indicators multiple-causes models were used to explore the external validity of these HRQL measurements in terms of their associations with other clinical assessments.

RESULTS

Bifactor models showed adequate goodness of fit, supporting HRQL in dementia as a general construct that underlies a diverse range of health indicators. At the same time, additional factors were necessary to explain residual covariation of items within specific health domains identified from the literature. Based on these models, DEMQOL and DEMQOL-Proxy overall total scores showed excellent reliability (ω h > 0.8). After accounting for common variance due to a general factor, subscale scores were less reliable (ω h < 0.7) for informing on individual differences in specific HRQL domains. Depression was more strongly associated with general HRQL based on DEMQOL than on DEMQOL-Proxy (-0.55 vs -0.22). Cognitive impairment had no reliable association with general HRQL based on DEMQOL or DEMQOL-Proxy.

CONCLUSIONS

The tenability of a bifactor model of HRQL in dementia suggests that it is possible to retain theoretical focus on the assessment of a general phenomenon, while exploring variation in specific HRQL domains for insights on what may lie at the 'heart' of HRQL for people with dementia. These data suggest that DEMQOL and DEMQOL-Proxy total scores are likely to be accurate measures of individual differences in HRQL, but that subscale scores should not be used. No specific domain was solely responsible for general HRQL at dementia diagnosis. Better HRQL was moderately associated with less depressive symptoms, but this was less apparent based on informant reports. HRQL was not associated with severity of cognitive impairment.

Predictors of Discrepancy Between Care Recipients With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia and Their Caregivers on Perceptions of the Care Recipients' Quality of Life

PURPOSE

The goal of this study was to explore predictors of discrepancy between reports of caregivers (CGs) and care recipients (CRs) with mild-to-moderate dementia about CRs' quality of life (QOL).

DESIGN AND METHODS

This study was a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data drawn from a study of 200 care dyads of CRs with mild-to-moderate dementia and their primary family CGs. Paired t test, ordinary least squares multiple regression, and binary logistic regression were used for the analyses.

RESULTS

Caregivers rated CRs' QOL significantly lower (worse) than CRs did. Ordinary least square regression results showed that greater incongruence in perceptions of CRs' decision-making involvement (DMI) and higher level of CR impairment in activities of daily living were significantly related to higher absolute discrepancy between CG and CR about CRs' QOL. In the logistic models, when the dyad had more DMI incongruence, or CG reported higher relationship strain, the CG was more likely to report a lower CR QOL than CR reported.

IMPLICATIONS

Practitioners should consider incorporating CRs' perspective when planning care instead of solely depending on CGs' perspective. Also, practitioners should pay attention to any gap between perceptions of CGs and CRs, particularly with regard to CRs' QOL.

Family Satisfaction With Nursing Home Care

This article explores the factor structure of a new family satisfaction with nursing home care instrument and determines the relationship of resident quality of life (QOL) and facility characteristics with family satisfaction. Data sources include (1) family satisfaction interviews ( n = 16,790 family members), (2) multidimensional survey of resident QOL ( n = 13,433 residents), and (3) facility characteristics ( n = 376 facilities). We used factor analysis to identify domains of family satisfaction and multivariate analyses to identify the role of facility-level characteristics and resident QOL on facility-mean values of family satisfaction. Four distinct domains were identified for family satisfaction: "care," "staff," "environment," and "food." Chain affiliation, higher resident acuity, more deficiencies, and large size were all associated with less family satisfaction, and resident QOL was a significant (albeit weak) predictor of family satisfaction. Results suggest that family member satisfaction is distinct from resident QOL but is associated with resident QOL and facility characteristics.

Personhood in dementia care

Dementia has been understood primarily as a biomedical phenomenon with a trajectory of irrevocable decline related to neurodegenerative changes. However, growing evidence suggests that the performance and behaviour of persons with dementia are not exclusively determined by neuropathology but are also influenced by personal histories, social interactions and social contexts. This evidence shifts attention from the disease process to the need for a more in-depth understanding of the place of personhood in dementia care. Despite its intuitive appeal however, there is limited empirical research grounding this approach to care. This article articulates a framework for organizing research in this area that is based on a critical review and synthesis of research. It encompasses three interrelated and intersecting domains of inquiry: the subjective experience of the person with dementia, the immediate interactional environment and the broader socio-cultural context. Each domain encapsulates a unique but interrelated dimension of a person-centred approach to dementia care.

Freedom of choice and decision-making in health and social care

People with dementia represent a significant and growing proportion of patients, but little is known about their involvement in making choices about their health or social care. This study explored the experiences of French older patients with dementia and their caregivers about their participation in decision-making. Individual semi-directive interviews were conducted with patients ( n= 21) and their primary carer focusing on a recently made decision (to accept professional help at home, to attend a day centre, or to move into residential care). Five aspects of decision-making were explored: information received; being listened to; expression of opinion; time allowed to reflect on decision; and possibility of changing one's mind. Carers tended to be more satisfied than patients on most criteria. Many patients felt they had not been listened to sufficiently, and had limited freedom to participate in decision-making. Continuing education may help professionals to improve their ability to involve patients with dementia in decision-making concerning their care arrangements.

Quality of life and dementia

Although we know that quality of life (QOL) can greatly influence a person's well-being, the measurement of QOL in individuals with dementia has, unfortunately, been largely ignored as a result of conceptual, logistical and measurement difficulties inherent in this population. To enable the voice of the person with dementia to be heard, a triangulated approach was adopted using survey data that aimed to assess the quality of life-Alzheimer's disease (QOL-AD) in Australian residential aged care and unstructured interviews with a small sample of participants ( n = 33). This article presents the survey results and demonstrates there were significant differences in QOL-AD scores between length of stay in the care setting groups, interpersonal relationship quality and self-esteem. Groups with greater physical impairment had lower QOL scores. It is concluded that the participants in this study were able to provide meaningful commentary on their QOL and that the findings may be useful when planning education of care staff and may contribute to theoretical models of dementia care.

What factors influence parents' perception of the quality of life of children and adolescents with neurocardiogenic syncope?

Background

Health-related quality of life, which can be investigated using self-reports or parental reports, could help healthcare providers understand the subjective perception of well-being of children suffering from recurrent syncopal episodes. Quality of life is not only a measure of health but is also a reflection of patients’ and parents’ perceptions and expectations of health. This study assessed: 1) the consistency and agreement between pediatric patients’ self-reports and parents’ proxy-reports of their child’s quality of life; 2) whether this patient-parent agreement is dependent on additional demographic and clinical or distress factors; 3) whether the parents’ psychological distress influences children’s and parents’ responses to questionnaires on quality of life.

Methods

One hundred and twenty-five Italian children aged 6-18 years old (Mean age 12.75, SD 2.73, 48 % female) and their parents completed the Pediatric Quality of Life inventory with self-reports and parent-proxy reports, the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form questionnaire and the Child Behavior Checklist for ages 6-18.

Patients’ and parents’ scores on quality of life were analyzed via an intra-class correlation coefficient, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, Wilcoxon signed-rank test, and Bland-Altman plot.

Results

Child-rated quality of life was lower than parent-rated quality of life. However, there were no statistically significant differences between pediatric patients’ self-reports and their parents’ proxy-reports of on quality of life. Clinically significant patient-parent variation in pediatric health-related quality of life was observed. Differences in patient-parent proxy Pediatric Quality of Life inventory Total Scale Score scores were significantly associated with patient age.

Conclusion

Concerning parents’ proxy-ratings of their children’s quality of life on the Pediatric Quality of Life inventory, parental stress was found to be negatively associated with their perceptions of their child’s psychological quality of life. Indeed, childhood illness is a source of stress for the whole family, and exposes family members to a greater risk of developing psychosocial difficulties. In conclusion, this study invites reflection on the use of cross-informants in investigating the quality of life of young patients with neurocardiogenic syncope and the psychological factors that influence how quality of life is perceived.

Characteristics of residents who thrive in nursing home environments: a cross-sectional study

AIM

To describe what characterizes residents with higher levels compared with those with lower levels of thriving in nursing homes using the Thriving of Older People Assessment Scale.

BACKGROUND

Thriving is conceptualized as people's experiences of well-being in relation to the environment where they live. Thriving has the potential to emphasize health-promotion and positive experiences in nursing home residents in addition to current focus on illness and symptoms.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional design.

METHODS

Data from a total sample of 191 residents in a large Swedish nursing home facility were separated into two groups; rated as having high and low thriving based on a median split of thriving total score for each participating resident. The characteristics of residents with higher and lower levels of thriving were compared using bivariate analyses to investigate differences. Data were collected in 2013.

RESULTS

Residents with higher levels of thriving had shorter length of stay at the facility, higher functioning in Activities of Daily Living and less cognitive impairment, lower frequency of behavioural and psychological symptoms and higher assessed quality of life. The ability to walk and possibilities to spend time outdoors were higher among those with higher levels of thriving.

CONCLUSION

Nursing home residents who experience thriving have a higher level of functioning in activities of daily living, a higher quality of life and are less physically and cognitively impaired.

Patient Mood and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Alzheimer Disease: Relationship Between Patient and Caregiver Reports

This retrospective study investigated the relationship between self-reports and caregiver perceptions of patients' depressive symptoms and the respective ability of these reports to predict instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) beyond what is accounted for by cognitive abilities in 71 patients with mild Alzheimer disease. Patients completed the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form, and caregivers completed the Behavior Rating Scale for Dementia assessing their perception of patients' depressive symptoms. Caregivers also completed IADL items from the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living Inventory. Cognitive measures included the Mini-Mental State Examination, Logical Memory from the Wechsler Memory Scale III, and Trail Making Test, Part B. The relationship between self-reported depressive symptoms and caregiver report of patients' depressive symptoms showed a trend toward significance (r = .22, P = .06). Measures of depressive symptoms significantly predicted 12.5% of the variance in IADLs performance, beyond that accounted for by patient demographics and cognitive functioning. Interestingly, patients' reports, rather than caregivers', were particularly useful in this prediction.

Impact on children of a parent with ALS: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have explored how patients and their caregivers cope with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the literature completely lacks research on the psychological impact of the disease on patients' children. The aim of our study was to investigate the emotional and psychological impact of a parent with ALS on school-age children and adolescents in terms of problem behavior, adjustment, and personality characteristics.

METHODS

The study involved 23 children (mean age = 10.62 years, six females) with a parent suffering from ALS, and both their parents. Children were matched for age, gender, and birth-order with a control group of children with healthy parents. They were administered the Youth Self Report (YSR) questionnaire and the Rorschach Comprehensive System, and their healthy parent completed the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL).

RESULTS

Findings clearly showed that, compared with controls, children with a parent who had ALS had several clinically significant adverse emotional and behavioral consequences, with emotional and behavioral problems, internalizing problems, anxiety and depressive symptoms. Children of a parent with ALS scored higher than controls for the Total Problems, Internalizing Problems, Anxious/Depressed and Withdrawn/Depressed scales in the YSR. A relevant percentage of children fell within the clinical range (42.9%) and borderline range (28.6%) for Internalizing Problems. The Rorschach CS confirmed the substantial impact of ALS in a parent on their offspring in terms of internalizing behavior and depression, with adjustment difficulties, psychological pain, and thought problems.

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate that school-aged children and adolescents with a parent who has ALS are vulnerable and carry a substantially higher risk of internalizing behavior, depressive symptoms, and reactive problems than children with healthy parents. Families affected may need support to cope with such an overwhelming disease.

Residents’ Self-Reported Quality of Life in Long-Term Care Facilities in Canada

La qualité de vie (QV) dont bénéficient les résidents des centres d'hébergement de soins de longue durée (SLD) est un résultat important des soins. Cette étude descriptive transversale a examiné la qualité de vie auto-declarée de résidents des établissements de SLD au Canada, tout en utilisant l'auto-évaluation interRAI Nursing Home Quality of Life Survey. Un objectif secondaire était de tester les propriétés pschométriques de l'instrument. Les tests psychométriques de l'instrument ont soutenu sa fiabilité et la validité de sa convergence et de son contenu pour l'évaluation de QV des résidents. Les résultats ont montré que les résidents ont évalués positivement plusieurs aspects de leur vie, comme d'avoir la vie privée lors des visites (76,9%) et l'honnêteté du personnel en traitant avec eux (73,6%). Les résidents ont accordé des taux inférieures à d'autres aspects, comme l'autonomie, la liaison entre le personnel et les résidents, et les relations personnelles. Les résultats suggèrent des lacunes importantes entre les philosophies de soins dans les établissements et leur traduction dans un environnement de soins ou les soins sont vraiment dirigés aux résidents. En outre, les résultats ont des implications potentielles pour la planification de soins aux résidents, la programmation de l'installation, le développement de la politique sociale et de la recherche future.

Principal component analysis of the Norwegian version of the quality of life in late-stage dementia scale

AIMS

To investigate which factors the Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia (QUALID) scale holds when used among people with dementia (pwd) in nursing homes and to find out how the symptom load varies across the different severity levels of dementia.

METHODS

We included 661 pwd [mean age ± SD, 85.3 ± 8.6 years; 71.4% women]. The QUALID and the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale were applied. A principal component analysis (PCA) with varimax rotation and Kaiser normalization was applied to test the factor structure. Nonparametric analyses were applied to examine differences of symptom load across the three CDR groups.

RESULTS

The mean QUALID score was 21.5 (±7.1), and the CDR scores of the three groups were 1 in 22.5%, 2 in 33.6% and 3 in 43.9%. The results of the statistical measures employed were the following: Crohnbach's α of QUALID, 0.74; Bartlett's test of sphericity, p <0.001; the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure, 0.77. The PCA analysis resulted in three components accounting for 53% of the variance. The first component was 'tension' ('facial expression of discomfort', 'appears physically uncomfortable', 'verbalization suggests discomfort', 'being irritable and aggressive', 'appears calm', Crohnbach's α = 0.69), the second was 'well-being' ('smiles', 'enjoys eating', 'enjoys touching/being touched', 'enjoys social interaction', Crohnbach's α = 0.62) and the third was 'sadness' ('appears sad', 'cries', 'facial expression of discomfort', Crohnbach's α 0.65). The mean score on the components 'tension' and 'well-being' increased significantly with increasing severity levels of dementia.

CONCLUSION

Three components of quality of life (qol) were identified. Qol decreased with increasing severity of dementia.

Self and carer perspectives of quality of life in dementia using the QoL-AD

OBJECTIVE

Quality of life (QoL) is one of the most important outcomes in improving well-being in people with dementia (PwD). The primary aim of the present study was to compare self and carer ratings of QoL in PwD and to identify the most important factors influencing self and carer ratings.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional analytic study of 488 dyads using the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease scale, demographics, data on self-rated health, and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Higher levels of self-rated health in PwD were associated with higher self-rated QoL after controlling for depression and activities of daily living. When the carer experienced less stress related to caregiving, the PwD reported better QoL. Higher carer-rated QoL was associated with less carer stress, better health for the family carer, and the PwD being of younger age. When carers lived with the PwD, and reported lower levels of depression and better functional ability for their relative, carer-rated QoL was higher.

CONCLUSIONS

The self-rated health of PwD and carers influences the ratings they make of the QoL of the PwD indicating that it is an important influence on QoL in this population.

PROGRESS IN CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES: Canadian Guidelines for the Development of Antidementia Therapies: A Conceptual Summary

The magnitude of the problems faced by an aging Canadian society has been clearly identified. Perhaps the single most important problem is the increasing incidence of dementia. Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for 50-60% of the dementias in later life within a spectrum of other contributing dementias. Regulatory approval has been given to Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate AD, and conditional approval to memantine for the symptoms of moderate to severe AD. There has been no regulatory approval for the treatment of the degenerative dementias beyond AD. The very rapid progress in the past decade in biotechnology and in the molecular biology of the dementias is supporting a new generation of innovative treatment strategies that will more directly target the underlying disease pathogenic mechanisms. Such treatments will foreseeably include immunotherapies, anti-aggregants that may prevent misfolding and deposition of proteins, and neuroregenerative interventions. These Guidelines follow the 2nd Canadian Conference on the Development of Antidementia Therapies, held in 2004, which covered a range of design, methodological and ethical issues facing clinical researchers and regulatory authorities. They are intended to provide a common point of reference and guidance in Canada for therapeutic development of the dementias.

Quality of Life in Dementia

There is a growing consensus that quality of life (QOL) is an important outcome for assessing the effectiveness of interventions for dementia, but there is no agreement about how to best measure it. Various approaches to QOL assessment have been employed to measure the QOL of persons with dementia, including patient self-report, caregiver proxy report and observational assessment by trained observers. Furthermore, several dementia-specific measures of QOL have been developed, and several generic measures of QOL have been used to assess QOL in dementia. However, to date, QOL has rarely been included as an outcome measure in clinical trials of pharmacotherapy for dementia. This manuscript reviews the current state of knowledge about QOL assessment in dementia.

HIV-Related Neurological Syndromes Reduce Health-Related Quality of Life

Background:

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection frequently results in neurological complications but the impact of different neurological syndromes on patients' quality of life remains unknown.

Methods:

We investigated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) parameters among HIV/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients with and without neurological disease, including 11 dimensions of HRQoL within the Medical Outcomes Short-form Health Survey-HIV.

Results:

Comparisons of sociodemographic and systemic clinical variables did not differ between HIV/AIDS patients with (n=94) and without (n=75) neurological disease. However, patients with neurological diseases exhibited significantly lower HRQoL scores compared to matched controls, which was most evident among HIV/AIDS patients with cognitive impairment and sensory neuropathy. Prospective analysis revealed diminishing HRQoL scores prior to neurological diagnosis followed by a progressive and sustained improvement in HRQoL scores after intervention over a 96-week period.

Conclusions:

These studies indicate that while HIV-related neurological diseases are associated with reduced HRQoL scores, enhanced neurological care has a positive impact on HIV/AIDS patients' overall well-being.

The use of the EQ-5D as a measure of health-related quality of life in people with dementia and their carers

PURPOSE

To assess the acceptability, validity and inter-rater agreement of self- and family carer proxy ratings of the EQ-5D as a generic health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure, in people with mild to moderate dementia (PwD) living in the community. A secondary aim was to identify the most important factors influencing self- and family carer proxy ratings of HRQOL, distinguishing between spouse and adult child caregiver ratings.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 488 dyads using the EQ-5D. Inter-rater agreement was examined using weighted kappa scores, and validity by investigating the association of self- and family carer ratings with clinical variables. Factors affecting HRQOL ratings were analysed using multivariate regression.

RESULTS

The response rate of the EQ-5D was satisfactory; however, agreement between self- and family carer ratings was poor. The most important predictors of PwD and carer ratings of the PwD's HRQOL were family carer ratings of activities of daily living and mood. Anxiety experienced by the PwD was a significant predictor of self-rated HRQOL, whereas depressive symptoms independently predicted family carer ratings. The type of the caregiving relationship influenced carer ratings of HRQOL, whereby sons and daughters rated HRQOL lower for the PwD compared with spousal caregivers.

CONCLUSIONS

People with mild to moderate dementia are able to rate their own HRQOL through a brief generic instrument; however, self-ratings consistently differ from family carer ratings, which should be acknowledged in cost-effectiveness analyses. Spouse caregivers rate HRQOL for the PwD more positively compared to adult children.

Measuring the quality of life in mild to very severe dementia: testing the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the German version of the QUALIDEM

BACKGROUND

Quality of life (Qol) is an increasingly used outcome measure in dementia research. The QUALIDEM is a dementia-specific and proxy-rated Qol instrument. We aimed to determine the inter-rater and intra-rater reliability in residents with dementia in German nursing homes.

METHODS

The QUALIDEM consists of nine subscales that were applied to a sample of 108 people with mild to severe dementia and six consecutive subscales that were applied to a sample of 53 people with very severe dementia. The proxy raters were 49 registered nurses and nursing assistants. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability scores were calculated on the subscale and item level.

RESULTS

None of the QUALIDEM subscales showed strong inter-rater reliability based on the single-measure Intra-Class Correlation Coefficient (ICC) for absolute agreement ≥ 0.70. Based on the average-measure ICC for four raters, eight subscales for people with mild to severe dementia (care relationship, positive affect, negative affect, restless tense behavior, social relations, social isolation, feeling at home and having something to do) and five subscales for very severe dementia (care relationship, negative affect, restless tense behavior, social relations and social isolation) yielded a strong inter-rater agreement (ICC: 0.72-0.86). All of the QUALIDEM subscales, regardless of dementia severity, showed strong intra-rater agreement. The ICC values ranged between 0.70 and 0.79 for people with mild to severe dementia and between 0.75 and 0.87 for people with very severe dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated insufficient inter-rater reliability and sufficient intra-rater reliability for all subscales of both versions of the German QUALIDEM. The degree of inter-rater reliability can be improved by collaborative Qol rating by more than one nurse. The development of a measurement manual with accurate item definitions and a standardized education program for proxy raters is recommended.

Quality of life of nursing home residents with dementia: validation of the German version of the ICECAP-O

Objectives

To validate the ICECAP-O capability wellbeing measure’s German translation in older people with dementia living in a nursing home, and to investigate the influence of proxy characteristics on responses.

Method

Cross-sectional study. For 95 residents living in a German nursing home, questionnaires were completed by nursing professionals serving as proxy respondents. We investigated the convergent validity of the ICECAP-O with other Quality of Life (Qol) measures, the EQ-5D extended with a cognitive dimension (EQ-5D+C), the Alzheimer’s Disease Related Quality of Life (ADRQL) measures, and the Barthel-index measure of Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Discriminant validity was investigated using bivariate and multivariate stepwise regression analysis, comparing ICECAP-O scores between subgroups varying in dementia severity, care dependency, ADL status and demographic characteristics.

Results

Convergent validity between the ICECAP-O, EQ-5D+C, ADRQL and Barthel-Index scores was moderate to good (with correlations of 0.72, 0.69 and 0.53 respectively), but differed considerably between dimensions of the instruments. Discriminant validity was confirmed by finding differences in ICECAP-O scores between subgroups based on ADL scores (0.58 below 65 points on the Barthel-index and 0.80 above 65 points) and other characteristics. The ICECAP-O scores based on available tariffs were related to proxy characteristics gender (0.52 males versus 0.65 females) and work experience (0.61 below 2 years of experience versus 0.68 above 2 years).

Discussion

The results of this study suggest that the ICECAP-O is a promising generic measure for general Qol and capability of people with dementia living in a nursing home. Validity tests generally yielded favorable results. Work experience and gender appeared to influence proxy response, which raises questions regarding appropriate proxies, especially since the ICECAP-O may be completed by proxies relatively often. Further research is necessary to validate the German version of the ICECAP-O, with specific attention to proxy completion for people with dementia.

A comparison of the emotional and behavioral problems of children of patients with cancer or a mental disorder and their association with parental quality of life

OBJECTIVE

To compare the emotional and behavioral problems of children of patients suffering from cancer or a mental disorder and their association with parental quality of life.

METHODS

A total of 223 children from 136 families and their 160 parents were investigated from multiple perspectives in a cross-sectional study. The consistency of different adjustment reports between family members was examined. Through mixed models, the differences between parental HRQoL and the children's symptomatology were studied with regard to the type of parental illness. The prediction of children's adjustment through parental HRQoL was further examined. Additionally, gender and age of the children were considered.

RESULTS

Half of the children exhibited psychosocial problems. Gender and age differences were independent of the type of parental disease. In families with parental cancer, the reports of children's adjustment were more consistent between family members than in families where a parental mental disorder was present. We found differences in HRQoL between families with mentally ill parents and those with parental cancer patients. Specifically, the healthy partners of mentally ill parents showed worse HRQoL compared with healthy partners of cancer patients. Healthy parents' reduced HRQoL was associated with worse adjustment in their children, regardless of the type of parental illness, but this result was not found for ill parents.

CONCLUSION

Family members confronted with parental cancer or mental disorders are more burdened compared with those from the "normal" population, independently of the type of disease. Our results indicate that the type of a parental disease has no direct effect on children's adjustment. However, there are disease-specific effects on parental HRQoL, which are associated with children's adjustment.

Health-related quality of life in the Cambridge City over-75s Cohort (CC75C): development of a dementia-specific scale and descriptive analyses

BACKGROUND

The assessment of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is important in people with dementia as it could influence their care and support plan. Many studies on dementia do not specifically set out to measure dementia-specific HRQL but do include related items. The aim of this study is to explore the distribution of HRQL by functional and socio-demographic variables in a population-based setting.

METHODS

Domains of DEMQOL's conceptual framework were mapped in the Cambridge City over 75's Cohort (CC75C) Study. HRQL was estimated in 110 participants aged 80+ years with a confirmed diagnosis of dementia with mild/moderate severity. Acceptability (missing values and normality of the total score), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), convergent, discriminant and known group differences validity (Spearman correlations, Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests) were assessed. The distribution of HRQL by socio-demographic and functional descriptors was explored.

RESULTS

The HRQL score ranged from 0 to 16 and showed an internal consistency Alpha of 0.74. Validity of the instrument was found to be acceptable. Men had higher HRQL than women. Marital status had a greater effect on HRQL for men than it did for women. The HRQL of those with good self-reported health was higher than those with fair/poor self-reported health. HRQL was not associated with dementia severity.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge this is the first study to examine the distribution of dementia-specific HRQL in a population sample of the very old. We have mapped an existing conceptual framework of dementia specific HRQL onto an existing study and demonstrated the feasibility of this approach. Findings in this study suggest that whereas there is big emphasis in dementia severity, characteristics such as gender should be taken into account when assessing and implementing programmes to improve HRQL.