Communication and QoL in Dementia: perceptions of SLT intervention
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do Speech and Language Therapy services to support communication meet the quality of life needs of dementia patients and their caregivers? A mixed-methods study exploring local perspectives within the national context.
IRAS ID
286242
Contact name
Cathy Henshall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Research Summary
Title: To what extent do speech and language therapy (SLT) services fulfil the needs of patients with dementia in the community?
Background: People with any type of dementia may experience difficulties with speech, language or communication. This can include difficulties finding words, forming sentences, slurring of speech, or changes to behaviour and the way in which they communicate. This can impact on the quality of life (QoL) of the person with dementia and their caregiver. At present, it is not clear whether SLT services are routinely offered to support the communication of people with dementia and their families.
Aim: This study aims to review the extent to which SLT services meet the needs of people living with dementia in the community, focusing on their QoL.
Method: A review of the literature on QoL in dementia will be performed. An electronic survey will be sent out to speech and language therapists across the UK via a national email distribution list to ascertain what services they offer for dementia. The topic of communication and the survey results will be discussed in interviews with local NHS trust dementia patients and caregivers. The interview findings and survey results will be taken to a focus group of health professionals who work within the local NHS trust. During the focus group, recommendations will be developed for potentially improving SLT services or suggesting further research needed in this area.
Dissemination: The research findings will be disseminated within the local trust, presented at local interest groups, conferences and published in journals for a national audience in order to inform future research in this field.Summary of Results
During 2022 and 2023, we conducted a number of interviews and focus groups. We were looking at how people with memory difficulties are affected by communication changes. We also considered how services can best support these individuals.
Over the last year, we have been bringing together all this information. This is helping us understand lots of different perspectives on this important topic. The key topics from interviews and focus groups include:
- People experience fluctuating and variable communication changes. Support therefore needs to be tailored to individual needs.
- Communication changes affect everyday life, activities, relationships and social opportunities. This can impact the wellbeing of people with memory conditions and their families.
- People have found ways of identifying and using helpful communication strategies.
- It can be challenging to access and navigate appropriate communication support.
- Services need to work together to support people with these communication difficulties. More research and resources are needed to establish the best way of doing this.We are working on ways of sharing these findings with services and people affected by these challenges. We are also working towards publishing this research.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0135
Date of REC Opinion
30 Apr 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion