Life of Dementia Patients - Research Proposal Example

A Research Proposal on Investigation of the Efficacy of Care in the Recovery Approach on the Quality of Life of Dementia Patients Table of Contents 0 Introduction 2 1.1Problem statement 3 1.3 Research aim 4 1.4 Research questions 4 1.5 Significance of this study 4 2.0 Literature review 5 2.1 Developments in the method of improving the quality of life for dementia patients 5 3.0 Research methodology 6 3.1 Research philosophy 6 3.2 Data collection 6 4.0 Project timescale 7 4.1 Timeframe 7 References 7 1.0 Introduction In the studies conducted by Norman and Ryrie (2009), they described dementia as a medical condition that is normally exhibited by people of an older age who show symptoms of chronic mental disorder that is attributed to brain injuries or diseases. Patients suffering from dementia exhibit symptoms of impaired reasoning, personality changes, and memory disorders. However, Hulko (2009) noted that dementia is not a single- disease but rather it is a non-specified syndrome that affects cognitive functions that include problem-solving, attention, memory, and language. In the later stages of dementia, patients normally, exhibit signs of time disorientation in the sense that they can say the exact time or even differentiate between day or night. Secondly, at the later stages, dementia patients cannot even be able to tell their exact location, and/ or even identify people they used to know. Thirdly, dementia patients also tend to exhibit a loss of control in their own behaviors as well as emotions. Lastly, dementia patients tend to suffer from impaired problem solving skills meaning that they cannot also be able to reason properly because of lack of sound mind. Repper and Perkins (2003) noted that for a particular case to be classified as dementia, medical practitioners recommend that the symptoms have to be persistent for a period of more than six months. According to the writings by Repper and Perkins (2003), they stated that persons who have suffered from previous physical impairments are prone to dementia more so those who had brain injury. Bartlett and O’Connor (2007) on their part stated that most dementia patients are persons above the age of sixty-five i.e. the geriatric population but there have been reported cases of dementia occurring before the age of sixty-five. Because of the unique nature of the dementia symptoms, the nursing requirements for catering for these patients tend to be unique because it is not focused towards ensuring the patients regain their full health back but rather it is focused on enabling the patients cope with the condition, whilst feel only an insignificant pain or inconveniencies caused by the condition. Therefore, it is particularly important to investigate the roles that nurses play in ensuring that dementia patients have a better quality of life despite their condition. 1.1 Problem statement The extent, nature, or standard of the nursing care given to dementia patients determines the quality of life the patients have until their death occurs. In this regard, Baldwin (2008) lamented on the fact that because of the rare incidences of dementia cases, there has been a little focus on the role of nurses in providing care to dementia patients. This is because there is even no special attention that has been given to this nursing role, which could have resulted in the development of special curriculums for training nurses on how to specifically cater for dementia patients. In the studies conducted by Carr et al. (1980), they lamented on the fact that traditional nursing practices for mentally ill patients have been largely centered on offering institutional psychiatric care to the patients. This nursing practice is largely blamed for contributing to the social exclusion of mentally ill patients, which lowers the quality of life and even decreases the chances of full recovery for patients who are not suffering from chronic diseases. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore other nursing practices that can provide dementia patients with a better quality of life. 1.3 Research aim The researcher aims to investigate the efficacy of nursing care in the recovery approach on dementia patients’ quality of life. 1.4 Research questions a) Does the element of providing dementia patients with well-being in the recovery approach improve their quality of life? b) Does the element of social inclusion in the recovery approach improve the quality of life for dementia patients? c) Does the quality of life for dementia patients improve when they are accorded an opportunity to manage their own self and even make their own decision in the recovery approach? d) Does the quality of life for dementia patients improve when they are given hope for a better life in the recovery approach? 1.5 Significance of this study This study will be particularly important since it will provide insights as to the best approach that nursing practitioners can use under the recovery approach in order to improve the quality of life for dementia patients. 2.0 Literature review 2.1 Developments in the method of improving the quality of life for dementia patients In the studies conducted by Adams and Bartlett (2005), they stated that there have been numerous developments on the nursing care that is provided to mentally ill patients including dementia patients. These developments have lead to the creation of the recovery approach or model, which is used to provide nursing care to dementia patients and it has been proven to increase the quality of life for dementia patients. According to Repper and Perkins (2008), they stated that the development of the recovery approach is based on the ideology that patients need to regain some of their cognitive functions in order to be able to have a better quality of life. The recovery approach therefore focuses on four key elements that include ensuring that patients remain part of the society and that they have healthy relationships with their family, friends, and even caregiver (Blum, 1991). Secondly, the approach focuses on ensuring that patients are in-charge of themselves and they even make their own decision, which is perceived to ensure they retain their self-esteem (Barnett, 2000). Thirdly, the approach focuses on instilling hope to the patients to ensure they do not give up on themselves. 3.0 Research methodology 3.1 Research philosophy The research will adopt a positivist perspective in the sense that it focus on correlating the condition of dementia patients with the recovery approach that is employed by nurses in their care. 3.2 Data collection In relation to the data retrieval methods, the use of scholarly works, journals, and other literature will be used alongside the use of primary research methods, which involves collecting raw data from participants using research tools such as questionnaires and interview sessions. In the use of scholarly sources, the researcher will go through various credible literatures including internet sources that provide critical discussion on the research topic and equally cover on the aims of this research study. In regards to the use of primary sources, the researcher will seek to collect raw data that answers the research questions that have been listed in the first chapter. The participants will be purposively selected from various health care institutions and they will mainly include nursing practitioners. The participants will be issued with questionnaires and the researcher will interview a few selected in order to get more insights as to the efficacy of nursing care in the recovery approach on dementia patients’ quality of life. Based on the method of data collection and even the possible data that will be collected it is correct to state that this study will apply the qualitative research method. 4.0 Project timescale 4.1 Timeframe The estimates show that the research project will take eight months as detailed in the Gantt chart below Activity March April May June July August September Proposal writing Preparation of instruments Data collection Data analysis and interpretation Testing frame work Writing of the project Submission of final report References Adams, T. and Bartlett, R., (2005). Constructing dementia. Dementia Care. Arnold, London, pp. 3–21. Baldwin, C., (2008). Narrative, citizenship and dementia: the personal and the political. Journal of Aging Studies 22 (3), 222–228. Barnett, E., (2000). Including the Person with Dementia in Designing and Delivering Care. Jessica Kingsley Publications, London Bartlett, R. and O’Connor, D., (2007). From personhood to citizenship: broadening the lens for dementia practice and research. Journal of Aging Studies 21, 107–118. Blum, N.S., (1991). The management of stigma by family caregivers. Contemporary Ethnography 20 (3), 263–284. Carr, P.J., Butterworth, C.A., and Hodges, B.E., (1980). Community Psychiatric Nursing. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh. Hulko, W., (2009). From ‘not a big deal’ to hellish’: The experiences of older people with dementia. Journal of Aging Studies 23 (3), 131–144. Norman, I., and Ryrie, I., (2009). The art and science of mental health nursing: a textbook of principles and practice. Open University Press, Maidenhead. Repper, J., and Perkins, R., (2003). Social Inclusion and Recovery: A Model for Mental Health Practice. Baillie` re Tindall, Edinburgh. Read More