Enhancing communication and engagement between people living with dementia and health care professionals across the well pathway for dementia

Dodd, Emily

Abstract

This thesis is a submission of eight published papers with a critical commentary to meet the requirements for a DPhil in accordance with the regulations of the University of the West of England (UWE, Bristol). These papers have resulted from three projects that I have worked on over the last seven years as a trial manager at UWE Bristol.

This thesis demonstrates how my work has generated new knowledge in the field of psychosocial approaches to dementia care. These projects share a common focus of person centred care in dementia. The findings from these projects add to the body of evidence for interventions to improve communication, interaction and engagement between health care professionals and people living with dementia within the different phases of the Well Pathway for Dementia. Project 1 adds to the knowledge around locating the assessment and diagnosis of dementia in primary care with a greater role for GPs and nurses in these processes. In project 2 I studied an intervention designed to improve support and engagement between staff and patients on older psychiatric inpatient units. Finally, in project 3 I researched ways in which the psychosocial threat of dementia can lead to a pattern of selective forgetting which inhibits communication and how nostalgic memories could alleviate this pattern of forgetting which could help people live well with dementia.
Within this critical commentary I demonstrate my intellectual contributions to these projects and papers, how I have developed my research skills and competencies and how I fulfil the six UWE Bristol doctoral descriptors.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 21, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 13, 2020
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/2372723
• Award Date: Mar 13, 2020