1
|
Wang S, Huang Y, Fan AYN, Ho MH, Davidson PM. Factors influencing the psychosocial well-being of people with dementia and their informal caregivers: A systematic review of dyadic studies. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2024; 33:560-581. [PMID: 38131462 DOI: 10.1111/inm.13279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with dementia and their informal caregivers face significant challenges to their psychosocial well-being, necessitating immediate attention. In spite of the prevalence of this problem, there is limited data regarding the factors that influence the dyadic psychosocial well-being and potential actor-partner influencing mechanisms. Therefore, this review was conducted to synthesise the factors associated with the psychosocial well-being of people with dementia and their informal caregivers. MEDLINE via EBSCOhost, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase and Scopus were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method studies examining the factors influencing dyadic psychosocial well-being outcomes were included. The quality of included studies was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal checklists. A narrative synthesis approach was employed for data analysis. A total of 3217 records were yield, out of which 26 studies were included in the analysis. Quality of life emerged as the most extensively investigated dyadic psychosocial well-being outcome, followed by depression. The interrelation between the quality of life for people with dementia and caregivers was observed, where individual members' quality of life was influenced by their own, partner and dyadic factors. However, there is a dearth of research exploring the mechanisms through which one member's factors exert influence on both their own and partner's quality of life within the dyad. This gap also exists for other psychosocial well-being outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms through which dyadic members influence their own and their partner's psychosocial well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Wang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
- School of Nursing and Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaqi Huang
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Avis Yat Ngar Fan
- School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Mu-Hsing Ho
- School of Nursing, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Read S, Hicks B, Budden E, Douglass J, Grahamslaw A, Herrero E, Joseph G, Kirkup C, Pusey M, Russell A, Sondh H, Sondh S, Storey B, Towson G, Baxter K, Birks Y, Brayne C, Colclough C, Dangoor M, Dixon J, Donaghy P, Gridley K, Harris PR, Hu B, King D, Knapp M, Miles E, Mueller C, Perach R, Robinson L, Rusted J, Thomas AJ, Wittenberg R, Banerjee S. Long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of people with dementia and their family carers. Age Ageing 2024; 53:afad233. [PMID: 38275095 PMCID: PMC10811518 DOI: 10.1093/ageing/afad233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Few studies have longitudinally mapped quality of life (QoL) trajectories of newly diagnosed people with dementia and their carers, particularly during coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). METHODS In a UK cohort study, 261 newly diagnosed people with dementia and 206 family carers were assessed prior to the pandemic (July 2019-March 2020), followed up after the first lockdown (July-October 2020) and then again a year and 2 years later. Latent growth curve modelling examined the level and change of QoL over the four time-points using dementia-specific QoL measures (DEMQOL and C-DEMQOL). RESULTS Despite variations in individual change scores, our results suggest that generally people with dementia maintained their QoL during the pandemic and experienced some increase towards the end of the period. This contrasted with carers who reported a general deterioration in their QoL over the same period. 'Confidence in future' and 'Feeling supported' were the only carer QoL subscales to show some recovery post-pandemic. DISCUSSION It is positive that even during a period of global disruption, decline in QoL is not inevitable following the onset of dementia. However, it is of concern that carer QoL declined during this same period even after COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted. Carers play an invaluable role in the lives of people with dementia and wider society, and our findings suggest that, post-pandemic, they may require greater support to maintain their QoL.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanna Read
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Ben Hicks
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Centre for Dementia Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Emily Budden
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | | | | | - Elena Herrero
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gregory Joseph
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Martha Pusey
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | - Alice Russell
- Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Worthing, UK
| | | | - Sharon Sondh
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Bryony Storey
- Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Gateshead, UK
| | | | - Kate Baxter
- Social Policy Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Yvonne Birks
- Social Policy Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Carol Brayne
- Cambridge Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Margaret Dangoor
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Josie Dixon
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Paul Donaghy
- Kings College London, Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK
| | - Kate Gridley
- Social Policy Research Unit, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of York, York, UK
| | - Peter R Harris
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Bo Hu
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Derek King
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Martin Knapp
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Eleanor Miles
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | | | - Rotem Perach
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Louise Robinson
- Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | | | - Alan J Thomas
- Institute for Ageing, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Raphael Wittenberg
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Sube Banerjee
- Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Baron DH, Coulthard E, David C, Sinclair LI. The risk of developing dementia in the COVID-19 pandemic; a cohort study. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2024; 39:e6041. [PMID: 38217550 PMCID: PMC10952166 DOI: 10.1002/gps.6041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cognitive decline are not fully understood. Higher social activity and relationships have been associated with decreased risk of dementia. We hypothesised that risk of transition to dementia would increase after the start of the first national lockdown. METHODS We obtained data from the Brains for Dementia (BDR) cohort, which has collected roughly annual data on 3726 older adults with and without dementia since 2008. Data continued to be collected during the lockdowns, although by telephone and/or video call instead of in person. Individuals diagnosed with dementia at study entry were excluded from this study as were individuals with only one visit. Cognitive status was classified using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) global score. Poisson regression with cubic splines to account for differences in age was used to compare the incidence of dementia before and after March 1st 2020. RESULTS Out of 2242 individuals, 208 individuals developed dementia before and 50 developed dementia after 01/03/20. The incidence rate ratio of developing dementia after 01/03/20 was 0.847 (0.538-1.335) p = 0.570. In our secondary analysis we found that the positive association between mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia incidence decreased after 1/3/20 (interaction effect p = 0.031). CONCLUSION The incidence of dementia as defined using the CDR global score did not change significantly after the first lockdown began, but we found evidence that lockdown decreased the positive association between MCI and dementia incidence. This may reflect that individuals were progressing to dementia more rapidly and thus missing the MCI stage or that assessing patients over the phone made diagnosing MCI more challenging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Hendrik Baron
- Dementia Research GroupUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- Frimley Health NHS Foundation TrustSurreyUK
| | | | - Carslake David
- Population Health SciencesUniversity of BristolBristolUK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology UnitUniversity of BristolBristolUK
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Gridley K. Standardised data collection from people with dementia over the telephone: A qualitative study of the experience of DETERMIND programme researchers in a pandemic. DEMENTIA 2023; 22:1718-1737. [PMID: 37495232 PMCID: PMC10372513 DOI: 10.1177/14713012231190585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
There is a notable lack of evidence on what constitutes good practice in remote quantitative data collection from research participants with dementia. During the COVID-19 pandemic face-to-face research became problematic, especially where participants were older and more at risk of infection. The DETERMIND-C19 study, a large cohort study of people with dementia, switched to telephone data collection over this period. This paper explores the experiences of researchers who collected quantitative data over the telephone from people with dementia during the first COVID-19 lockdowns in England. The aim was to learn from these experiences, share insights and inform future research practice across disciplines. Seven DETERMIND researchers were interviewed about the processes and challenges of collecting quantitative data from people with dementia over the telephone compared to face-to-face. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Two themes were developed: first the telephone adds an extra layer of confusion to an already cognitively complex interaction. Second, researchers found it difficult to recognise subtle cues that signalled participants' rising emotion over the telephone in time to prevent distress. The researchers employed strategies to support participants which may not have conformed to the strict conventions of structured interviewing, but which were informed by person-oriented principles. Whilst in practice this may be a common approach to balancing the needs of participants and the requirements of quantitative research, it is rare for studies to openly discuss such trade-offs in the literature. Honest, reflective reporting is required if the practice of remote data collection from people with dementia is to progress ethically and with integrity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Gridley
- Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Soysal P, Veronese N, Smith L, Chen Y, Akpinar Soylemez B, Coin A, Religa D, Välimäki T, Alves M, Shenkin SD. The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers of People with Dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Geriatrics (Basel) 2023; 8:97. [PMID: 37887970 PMCID: PMC10606547 DOI: 10.3390/geriatrics8050097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the psychological well-being of caregivers of people with dementia or mild cognitive impairment (PwD/MCI). Electronic databases were searched from inception to August 2022 for observational studies investigating the COVID-19 lockdown and psychological well-being of caregivers of PwD/MCI. Summary estimates of standardized mean differences (SMD) in psychological well-being scores pre- versus during COVID-19 were calculated using a random-effects model. Fifteen studies including 1702 caregivers (65.7% female, mean age 60.40 ± 12.9 years) with PwD/MCI were evaluated. Five studies found no change in psychological well-being parameters, including depression, anxiety, distress, caregiver burden, and quality of life. Ten studies found a worsening in at least one parameter: depression (six studies, n = 1368; SMD = 0.40; 95%CI: 0.09-0.71; p = 0.01, I2 = 86.8%), anxiety (seven studies, n = 1569; SMD = 1.35; 95%CI: 0.05-2.65; I2 = 99.2%), caregiver distress (six studies, n = 1320, SMD = 3.190; 95%CI: 1.42-4.95; p < 0.0001; I2 = 99.4%), and caregiver burden (four studies, n = 852, SMD = 0.34; 95%CI: 0.13-0.56; p = 0.001; I2 = 54.1%) (p < 0.05). There was an increase in depression, anxiety, caregiver burden, and distress in caregivers of PwD/MCI during the lockdown in the COVID pandemic. This could have longer term consequences, and it is essential that caregivers' psychological well-being is assessed and supported, to benefit both themselves and those for whom they care.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pinar Soysal
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul 34093, Turkey
| | - Nicola Veronese
- Department of Internal Medicine, Geriatrics Section, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - Lee Smith
- Centre for Health Performance and Wellbeing, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK
| | - Yaohua Chen
- Department of Geriatrics, Lille Neurosciences & Cognition, University of Lille, 59000 Lille, France
| | - Burcu Akpinar Soylemez
- Department of Internal Medicine Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir 35210, Turkey
| | - Alessandra Coin
- Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine, University of Padua, 35122 Padua, Italy
| | - Dorota Religa
- Division for Clinical Geriatrics, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institute, 14152 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tarja Välimäki
- Department of Nursing Science, University of Eastern Finland, 70211 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mariana Alves
- Serviço de Medicina III, Hospital Pulido Valente, CHLN, Alameda das Linhas de Torres, 117, 1769-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susan D. Shenkin
- Ageing and Health Research Group, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Colclough C, Miles E, Rusted J, Perach R, Hicks B, Dixon J, Dangoor M, Gridley K, Birks Y, Donaghy P, Mcardle R, Moseley E, Sondh HK, Banerjee S. Emotion-focused dyadic coping styles used by family carers of people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. DEMENTIA 2023:14713012231173812. [PMID: 37147119 PMCID: PMC10164090 DOI: 10.1177/14713012231173812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Emotional wellbeing of family carers and people with dementia is associated with not only how each individual copes with stress and conflict, but also by how they cope together. Finding ways to positively cope together was particularly important during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, when other avenues of emotional support were less available. We explored how carers experienced and used emotion-focused dyadic coping styles during the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted during the pandemic with 42 family carers, supplemented by quality of life scores collected both pre- and during the pandemic and household status. Abductive thematic analysis identified five styles of emotion-focused dyadic coping: common, supportive, hostile, disengaged avoidance and protective. The COVID-19 pandemic left many dyads unsupported. While many carers adapted, reporting increases in quality of life and enjoying the extra time with the person with dementia, others experienced dyadic conflict and reductions in quality of life. This variation was associated with dyadic coping styles, including challenges in using 'positive' styles and the protective use of 'negative' disengaged avoidance in the right situations. Dyadic coping styles also differed as a function of whether the dyad lived together. As many people with dementia are supported by an informal carer, considering how they cope together could help us to better support them. We make suggestions for dyadic interventions tailored by co-residency status that could help dyads identify and communicate coping needs, reconnect following avoidance coping, and replenish their coping resources through social support.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eleanor Miles
- School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | | | - Rotem Perach
- School of Social Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Ben Hicks
- Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Brighton, UK
- University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Josie Dixon
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Margaret Dangoor
- Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK
| | - Kate Gridley
- Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, York, UK
| | - Yvonne Birks
- Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, York, UK
| | - Paul Donaghy
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Riona Mcardle
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Elen Moseley
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Sube Banerjee
- Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hicks B, Gridley K, Dixon J, Baxter K, Birks Y, Colclough C, Karim A, Perach R, Moseley E, Russell A, Sondh HK, Storey B, Tipping E, Ardle RM, Donaghy P, Dangoor M, Miles E, Robinson L, Rusted J, Waine H, Wheatley K, Banerjee S. Using digital technologies to facilitate social inclusion during the COVID-19 pandemic: Experiences of co-resident and non-co-resident family carers of people with dementia from DETERMIND-C19. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2023; 38:e5886. [PMID: 36734147 PMCID: PMC10947510 DOI: 10.1002/gps.5886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic triggered rapid and unprecedented changes in the use of digital technologies to support people's social inclusion. We examined whether and how co-resident and non-co-resident family carers of people with dementia engaged with digital technologies during this period. METHODS Throughout November 2020-February 2021, we interviewed 42 family carers of people with dementia from our DETERMIND-C19 cohort. Preliminary analysis was conducted through Framework analysis, followed by an inductive thematic analysis. FINDINGS Digital technologies served as a Facilitator for social inclusion by enabling carers to counter the effects of the differing restrictions imposed on them so they could remain socially connected and form a sense of solidarity, access resources and information, engage in social and cultural activities and provide support and independence in their caring role. However, these experiences were not universal as carers discussed some Challenges for tech inclusion, which included preferences for face-to-face contact, lack of technological literacy and issues associated with the accessibility of the technology. CONCLUSION Many of the carers engaged with Information and Communication Technologies, and to a lesser extent Assistive Technologies, during the pandemic. Whilst carers experienced different challenges due to where they lived, broadly the use of these devices helped them realise important facets of social inclusion as well as facilitated the support they provided to the person with dementia. However, to reduce the 'digital divide' and support the social inclusion of all dementia carers, our findings suggest it is essential that services are attuned to their preferences, needs and technological abilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Hicks
- Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| | - Kate Gridley
- Social Policy Research UnitUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | - Josie Dixon
- Care Policy and Evaluation CentreLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceLondonUK
| | - Kate Baxter
- Social Policy Research UnitUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | - Yvonne Birks
- Social Policy Research UnitUniversity of YorkYorkUK
| | | | - Anomita Karim
- Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| | | | - Elen Moseley
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Alice Russell
- Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| | | | | | - Eva Tipping
- Brighton and Sussex Medical SchoolUniversity of SussexBrightonUK
| | | | | | - Margaret Dangoor
- Care Policy and Evaluation CentreLondon School of Economics and Political ScienceLondonUK
| | | | | | | | - Harriet Waine
- South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|