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Morris, L., Innes, A., Smith, Emma, Williamson, Tracey and McEvoy, P. (2021) A feasibility study of the impact of a communication-skills course, 'Empowered Conversations', for care partners of people living with dementia. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. pp. 1-13. ISSN 1417-3012 Online: 1741-2684
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Abstract
Objectives
To examine the feasibility, acceptability and impact of an experiential course for family care partners of people living with dementia, Empowered Conversations (EC). This study aimed to assess the impact of participation in an EC course on care partner stress levels, communication and mentalization (a form of relational-based empathy).
Method
This study uses an uncontrolled pre–post-follow-up design. Follow-up was at 4-months after the initial EC session where baseline data were collected. One hundred and fifty-nine care partners were recruited. EC is a training course that has been designed to improve care partner communication, well-being and relationships. It is based on an integrative framework that targets the specific psychological, relationship and communication needs of carers. This framework informs targeted strategies and interactive exercises that facilitate carers to consider the goals and emotions of those they are caring for, alongside their own goals and emotions, and to use this to maximize good communication.
Results
Stress was significantly reduced across the three time points. Communication significantly improved across time. There were no significant changes in reflective functioning (mentalization).
Discussion
This study provides preliminary evidence that a communication-skills training course for care partners of people living with dementia is an acceptable and feasible intervention and has an impact both post-intervention and at follow-up. These findings require validation in a rigorous, randomized study.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | A pdf file of the published article is available to download from this WRaP record. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access page (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage). |
| Uncontrolled Discrete Keywords: | dementia, training, caregivers, carers, psychosocial interventions |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Divisions: | College of Health, Life and Environmental Sciences > School of Allied Health and Community |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | Jennifer Bray |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Jun 2021 10:39 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Jan 2022 13:23 |
| URI: | https://eprints.worc.ac.uk/id/eprint/10539 |
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