Project Title

An Evaluation of a Hospice Enabled Dementia Partnership Project

Research Focus:

Chronic Illness and Palliative Care

Funder & Dates

Atlantic Philanthropies and N. Ireland Hospice (2017-18)

Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor (if PhD project)

Dr Dorry McLaughlin, Lecturer in Palliative Care & Chronic Illness, School of Nursing & Midwifery

Co-Investigators or additional supervisors

Professor Kevin Brazil, Professor of Palliative Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery

Professor Joanne Reid, School of Nursing and Midwifery

Lesley Rutherford, Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast and QUB

Research Fellow(s) or PhD Student

Name & Institution of Collaborators

Dr Felicity Hasson, School of Nursing, Ulster University

Dr Jenny van der Steen (European Collaborator) Associate Professor, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

Name of External Partner Organisations

Dr Carol Stone, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast

Description of Project:

Aim; Methods; Expected Outcomes

(up to 300 words)

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate a partnership model of Hospice Enabled Dementia Care between a specialist palliative care hospice provider and a Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland.

Methods: A formative evaluation involving four phases. Phase 1 involved the analysis of anonymised data relating to the number and nature of referrals, demographics of people referred and on-going service activity data. In Phase 2 semi-structured interviews have taken place with twelve active family carers of a relative with Dementia who has been referred to the Hospice Enabled Dementia Partnership Project. In Phase 3 six focus groups have taken place with health and social care professionals (n=31). Phase 4 has involved telephone interviews with five policy makers and service commissioners. Qualitative data were subjected to thematic analysis and quantitative data yielded descriptive statistics as frequencies and percentages.

Expected outcomes: Family member’s experiences of this model of care and the impact on their lives and that of their relative with dementia. Health and social care professionals’ perceptions of this model of care and its further dissemination and development. Policy Makers’ perceptions of the strategic direction of this example of good practice.

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