๐ฌIn plain words
What the trial is, and whether it could suit you
Study Goal: Understand carers' needs when someone with dementia is in a mental health ward and develop strategies to support carers as partners in care.
Research Questions:
* What are mental health wards like in terms of staff, patients, and current carer support?
* What do carers experience and need during admission, discharge, and beyond?
* How do ward routines and staff practices affect carer involvement?
* How can co-design turn research into practical strategies for carer support?
* Can these strategies be implemented effectively?
Method: The investigators will survey mental health wards nationwide, interview carers from three UK wards, observe ward practices, and talk to staff. They will use this information to create and share practical strategies to improve carer support across the UK.
Sign in to get the eligibility rules as simple questions to take to your doctor.
๐ Eligibility rules (as published)
Survey
Inclusion Criteria:
* Ward managers of mental health wards that provides care to PLWD
* Ward managers from NHS wards that provides care to PLWD
* Ward managers from private providers that provides care to PLWD
* Ward managers that work on organic or mixed wards that provides care to PLWD
Exclusion Criteria:
* Functional older adult mental health wards that do not provide care to PLWD
* Staff members who are not the ward manager
Longitudinal interviews with current carers
Inclusion criteria:
* Family member (any relationship) or friend of a PLWD currently receiving care on a mental health ward
* Aged 18 years old or above
* Has capacity to consent to participate in an interview
* Willing to take part in 3 interviews over 12 months
Exclusion criteria:
* The carer is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation.
* The carer is under 18 years old
* The carer does not have capacity to consent to participate in an interview
Interviews with discharged carers
Inclusion criteria:
* Family member (any relationship) or friend of a PLWD discharged from the ward within the last 3 years
* Aged 18 years old or above
* Has capacity to consent to participate in an interview
* Willing to take part in an interview
Exclusion criteria:
* The carer is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation
* The carer is under 18 years old
* The carer does not have capacity to consent to participate in an interview
Interviews with People Living With Dementia (PLWD)
Inclusion criteria:
* PLWD currently under the care of the mental health ward
* PLWD discharged from the care of a dementia mental health ward within the last 3 years
* Has capacity to give informed consent to taking part in an interview
* Willing to take part in an interview alongside their carer
Exclusion criteria:
* The PLWD is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation
* The PLWD does not have capacity to consent to participate in an interview
* The PLWD is not willing to take part in an interview alongside their carer
* The PLWD has been discharged from the care of a dementia mental health ward for more than 3 years
Co-design study - PLWD and carers
Inclusion criteria:
* PLWD who may, or may not, have experience of dementia mental health wards
* Carers (family members or friends) of PLWD who may, or may not, have experience of dementia mental health wards
* Willing to talk about mental health and dementia
* Aged 18 years old or above
* Have capacity to give informed consent
Exclusion criteria:
* Participants who do not have experience of living with, or caring for someone with, dementia
* Not willing to talk about mental health and dementia
* Aged under 18 years old
* Does not have capacity to give informed consent
Co-design study - staff
Inclusion criteria:
* Members of staff working within mental health wards for PLWD
* Members of staff of any professional group in a role that involves contact with carers (e.g. health care assistants, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, family therapists, psychiatrists etc)
* Members of staff of any pay band or grade
* Students on placement in a mental health ward
* Members of staff working on NHS or private wards
Exclusion criteria:
* The staff member is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation
* Members of staff that do not work within mental health wards for PLWD
Feasibility study - PLWD and carers
Inclusion criteria:
* PLWD
* Carer (family or friend; current or bereaved)
* Willing to review outputs related to mental health wards
* Aged 18 years old or above
* Capacity to consent to take part
Exclusion criteria:
* The participant (PLWD or carer) is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation.
* Is not willing to review outputs related to mental health wards
* Aged under 18 years old
* Does not have capacity to consent to take part
Feasibility study - staff
Inclusion criteria:
* Members of staff working within mental health wards for PLWD
* Members of staff of any professional group in a role that involves contact with carers (e.g. health care assistants, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, family therapists, psychiatrists etc)
* Members of staff of any pay band or grade
* Students on placement in a mental health ward
* Members of staff working on NHS or private wards
Exclusion criteria:
* The staff member is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation
* Members of staff that do not work within mental health wards for PLWD