Dementia Challenge: an evaluation of four hospital trusts
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Dementia Challenge: A study to evaluate a programme of work to improve dementia care
IRAS ID
151047
Contact name
Gary T Bellamy
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Kent and Medway Commissioning Support Unit
Research summary
In March 2012, the Prime Minister launched a programme called Dementia Challenge – a national agenda designed to deliver sustained improvements in health and care, create dementia friendly communities, and boost dementia research. A number of organisations in the UK including East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust (QEQM hospital, Kent and Canterbury hospital and William Harvey hospital), Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust (Darent Valley Hospital), Medway Foundation Trust (Medway Maritime hospital), Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (Tunbridge Wells ’Pembury’ hospital and Maidstone hospital) were awarded funding to develop their dementia services in a number of key areas. These include: environmental changes, dementia training and awareness, dementia volunteer’s scheme (dementia buddies/friends) and the butterfly/ forget-me-knot campaign. Working with these four organisations, this study aims to explore the views of care staff, relatives and carers of dementia patients and trained dementia volunteers to evaluate the changes that have occurred as a result of the dementia challenge. Using a mixed methods approach, the study will gather data from the following participants using the following methods:
1. Focus groups with health care staff to explore their views in relation these four key areas.
2. Focus group discussions with dementia volunteers to explore their motivations for volunteering for the scheme, their experiences of the training and working with dementia patients in a voluntary capacity.
3. Anonymous questionnaire/ survey with family members/carers of dementia patients to include questions about the butterfly/forget me not schemes, environmental changes, dementia training and views/awareness and the volunteer/buddy/ dementia friends scheme)REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/0691
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion