scholarly journals Patient and companion concerns when receiving a dementia diagnosis: an observational study of dementia diagnosis feedback meetings

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1782-1805 ◽  
Author(s):  
PENNY XANTHOPOULOU ◽  
JEMIMA DOOLEY ◽  
ILARIA MEO ◽  
NICK BASS ◽  
ROSE MCCABE
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Dementia Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnosis Of Dementia ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

ABSTRACTReceiving a diagnosis of dementia is a life-changing event and can cause strong emotional reactions. The aim of this study was to examine patient and companion concerns expressed during dementia diagnosis feedback meetings. Sixty consultations between 19 health-care professionals (HCPs), 60 patients and 59 companions were video-recorded and transcribed. Concerns were identified from the transcripts and were (a) content analysed, (b) coded aselicitedby the HCP orvolunteeredby the patient or companion, and (c) coded according to whether the HCPencouragedordiscouragedelaboration of the concern. A total of 249 concerns were identified (average four concerns per consultation). There were three areas of findings: (a) patients and companions were concerned about the symptoms of dementia and receiving a diagnosis; other concerns related to patients’ mental and physical health, and prognosis, (b) HCPs elicited more patient than companion concerns and mostly elicited concerns aligned with the agenda of diagnosis feedback, and (c) HCPs were more likely to encourage elaboration when they elicited the concern. Nearly 40 per cent of concerns were discouraged by the HPC changing topic, with concerns about prognosis most commonly discouraged. The findings suggest that there were a wide variety of concerns at dementia diagnosis, many extending beyond the experience of dementia symptoms. HCP avoidance of concerns about prognosis demonstrated delicacy in discussing the deteriorating course of dementia.

Reflections on integrating mental health into primary health care services in remote Indigenous communities in Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissa Haswell-Elkins ◽  
Ernest Hunter ◽  
Tricia Nagel ◽  
Carolyn Thompson ◽  
Brenda Hall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Health Care Services ◽  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Primary Health Care Services ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

At present, there is a perceived and functional separation of mental health services from the general delivery of primary health care services in remote Indigenous communities in most places in the country. There are a range of issues underlying this separation; many are historical but continue to influence patterns of thinking about mental and physical health. With the increasing shift of focus of care at primary level from being largely reactive to presentations of acute illnesses towards proactive and strategically guided approaches to the management of chronic diseases, coupled with similar national strategic documents guiding mental health care into a primary health care format, the opportunity to integrate the provision of mental and physical health care has never been better. Accompanying this integration should be a reflection and improvement on models of care that address needs of Indigenous people in a more culturally and contextually appropriate manner, as is clearly defined in an increasing range of Indigenous health policy documents. This paper will begin with a summary of the link between mental and physical health supported by key references. It will then briefly reflect on the current organisation of mental and physical health services in remote Indigenous settings of Far North Queensland and the Northern Territory, identifying some of the major disadvantages being experienced. The paper will close with a description of the approach and some early outcomes to address these issues by the Indigenous Stream of the AIMhi project (Australian Integrated Mental Health Initiative), which is a major National Health & Medical Research Council (NH&MRC) Strategic Partnership initiative that began implementing a framework of research activities in mid-2003.

scholarly journals Promoting the health and well being of older carers: A proactive strategy

2003 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bev O'Connell ◽  
Susan Bailey ◽  
Arlene Walker
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Health Care Needs ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Care Needs ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Mental And Physical Health ◽  
Health And Well Being

Research has indicated that carers are concerned about their ageing status, their deteriorating health and their abilityto continue to care for their dependants. Given that the health care system will become increasingly reliant on carersthe health care needs of carers should be a concern for all health care professionals. This paper describes the first stageof a project designed to enhance older carers health promotion knowledge and skills and improve their healthpromoting behaviors. This stage investigated the mental and physical health status of older carers. It also soughtinformation on older carers' levels of participation in health related and social activities and identification of barriersto participation in these types of activities. The results highlighted that carers responding to the survey experiencedcompromised physical and mental health. Many carers reported being unable to participate in social and health-typeactivities as they were unable to leave the care recipient. Of note, is that carers identified their own mental fragilityand felt they needed further emotional support.

“Who Would Sexually Assault an 80-Year-Old Woman?” Barriers to Exploring and Exposing Sexual Assault Against Women in Late Life

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052093444
Author(s):  
Hadass Goldblatt ◽  
Tova Band-Winterstein ◽  
Sagit Lev ◽  
Dovrat Harel
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sexual Assault ◽  
Social Exclusion ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Complex Trauma ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Late Life ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Conspiracy Of Silence

The phenomenon of Sexual Assault against Women in Late Life (SAWLL) has received increasing research attention in recent years. Yet, there is still only scant knowledge on it, compared with research on the sexual assault of younger women. Sexual assault is considered a sensitive topic, generally characterized by a conspiracy of silence. The aim of this article is to explore the barriers that hinder the identification and exposure of SAWLL, as reported by professionals. The research question was as follows: How do welfare and health care professionals present the motives and processes that obstruct exploring, exposing, and intervening in cases of SAWLL? A qualitative research design was used. Participants were 18 experienced welfare and health care professionals engaged in intervention with sexual assault in late life victims as well as offenders. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews, which were later transcribed and thematically analyzed. Four themes emerged from the data analysis: (a) Leading Negative Emotions, (b) Lack of Language, (c) Implications of Cumulative and Complex Trauma, and (d) Social Exclusion. Women and professionals alike undergo complementary processes involving silence and silencing. These processes construct a “wall” of barriers, requiring professionals’ sensitivity and awareness to deconstruct these barriers. Professional intervention through open discourse with the abused women can break this conspiracy of silence. We recommend that training programs for professionals intervening in cases of elder abuse and neglect will be directed along two paths: The first path should focus on professionals’ competence and skills, and the second path should address the women’s specific needs. These programs will include a particular module that will specifically address SAWLL. This module should comprise knowledge on typical emotional reactions to SAWLL, the use of language in creating reality, cumulative and complex trauma, and the social construction of ageism and sexism, which lead to social exclusion.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document