Marital relationship in dementia care and possible intervention - An exploratory study in Shanghai, China

Objectives To examine the subjective experiences of spousal carers, focusing on positive, negative, and relational aspects of this role. Methods Mixed-methods exploratory study involving questionnaires ( N = 40) and in-depth interviews ( N = 8) with spousal carers in the southwest of England. Results Participants used a combination of negative and positive terms to describe their experiences, with the cared-for spouse's mental acuity, behavior towards the carer, and amount of care required, impacting on carers' subjective experience. Women were more likely to report neglecting their own health because of being a carer ( p = 0.02). The marital relationship itself was highly significant, and many carers took special measures to maintain and develop their marital bonds. Carers adapted to their roles in various ways, with those finding acceptance of their situation and accessing support appearing to cope best with the demands of the role. Discussion This study, though based on a small and geographically restricted sample, offers insight into the positive, negative, and relational experiences of spousal carers. Support that encourages carers to engage in health-promoting activities, and ideally provides opportunities for both partners to be involved in such activities together, may be particularly beneficial.

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Caring for older people with dementia: An exploratory study of staff knowledge and perception of training in three Australian dementia care facilities

Australasian Journal on Ageing ◽

10.1111/j.1741-6612.2012.00640.x ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 32 (1) ◽

pp. 52-55 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Cindy Jones ◽

Wendy Moyle ◽

Gillian Stockwell-Smith

Keyword(s):

Older People ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Dementia Care ◽

People With Dementia ◽

Care Facilities

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Supporting strengths and responding to agitation in dementia care: An exploratory study

American Journal of Alzheimer s Disease ◽

10.1177/153331759701200503 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 198-208 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Lois B. Taft ◽

Valerie Matthiesen ◽

Carol J. Farran ◽

Judith J. McCann ◽

Kathleen A. Knafl

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Dementia Care

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Powerlessness in Terminal Care of Demented Patients: An Exploratory Study

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/j3h1-n66w-gqbj-menn ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

pp. 15-19 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Britt Mari A˚kerlund ◽

Astrid Norberg

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Terminal Care ◽

Gastric Tube ◽

Tube Feeding ◽

Dementia Care ◽

Ethical Aspects ◽

Demented Patient ◽

Human Contact

Five caregivers in dementia care were interviewed about their ambivalent feelings toward spoon-feeding a severely demented patient. The caregivers were first inclined to recommend the use of a naso-gastric tube, but after a thorough discussion of the ethical aspects of this subject, they became more and more reluctant to use tube-feeding. Although tube-feeding was regarded as an easier way to provide nourishment, spoon-feeding was preferred because it provides more human contact and love. The act of spoon-feeding could be interpreted as a symbolization of love.

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Speech Intelligibility and Marital Communication in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Communication Disorders Quarterly ◽

10.1177/1525740110367824 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 33 (1) ◽

pp. 34-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Karin Joubert ◽

Juan Bornman ◽

Erna Alant

Keyword(s):

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis ◽

Exploratory Study ◽

Neuromuscular Disease ◽

Speech Intelligibility ◽

Marital Relationship ◽

Holistic Approach ◽

Communication Intervention ◽

Marital Communication ◽

Positive Relation ◽

Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease, has a devastating impact not only on individuals diagnosed with ALS but also their spouses. Speech intelligibility, often compromised as a result of dysarthria, affects the couple’s ability to maintain effective, intimate communication. The purpose of this exploratory study was to determine the association between the deteriorating speech of persons with ALS (PALS) and couples’ perceptions of marital communication. There were two participant groups: (a) persons with ALS (PALS) and (b) their spouses. Data were collected over a 12-month period through the administration of objective and subjective measures. A review of the findings suggested a positive relation between declining speech intelligibility and a couple’s perception of marital communication. A holistic approach to communication intervention should be adopted for PALS, as communication as a means of facilitating and maintaining intimacy in the marital relationship is particularly pertinent to this population.

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A hospital clerkship program for dental students: an exploratory study

Journal of Dental Education ◽

10.1002/j.0022-0337.1969.33.2.tb00173.x ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 224-229

Author(s):

EA Stuebner ◽

RP Johnson

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Dental Students

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Classifying Disfluencies in Preschool- and School-Age Spanish–English Bilinguals Who Do Not Stutter: An Exploratory Study

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_persp-19-00164 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 119-130

Author(s):

Raúl Rojas ◽

Farzan Irani

Keyword(s):

Exploratory Study ◽

Evidence Base ◽

Medium Effect ◽

Bilingual Children ◽

Linear Regression Models ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Total Percentage ◽

Narrative Production ◽

Language Measures ◽

Mean Length Of Utterance

Purpose This exploratory study examined the language skills and the type and frequency of disfluencies in the spoken narrative production of Spanish–English bilingual children who do not stutter. Method A cross-sectional sample of 29 bilingual students (16 boys and 13 girls) enrolled in grades prekindergarten through Grade 4 produced a total of 58 narrative retell language samples in English and Spanish. Key outcome measures in each language included the percentage of normal (%ND) and stuttering-like (%SLD) disfluencies, percentage of words in mazes (%MzWds), number of total words, number of different words, and mean length of utterance in words. Results Cross-linguistic, pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences with medium effect sizes for %ND and %MzWds (both lower for English) as well as for number of different words (lower for Spanish). On average, the total percentage of mazed words was higher than 10% in both languages, a pattern driven primarily by %ND; %SLDs were below 1% in both languages. Multiple linear regression models for %ND and %SLD in each language indicated that %MzWds was the primary predictor across languages beyond other language measures and demographic variables. Conclusions The findings extend the evidence base with regard to the frequency and type of disfluencies that can be expected in bilingual children who do not stutter in grades prekindergarten to Grade 4. The data indicate that %MzWds and %ND can similarly index the normal disfluencies of bilingual children during narrative production. The potential clinical implications of the findings from this study are discussed.

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