作者
Debra G Morgan, Sheena Walls-Ingram, Allison Cammer, Megan E O'Connell, Margaret Crossley, Vanina Dal Bello-Haas, Dorothy Forbes, Anthea Innes, Andrew Kirk, Norma Stewart
发表日期
2014/2/1
期刊
Social Science & Medicine
卷号
102
页码范围
111-118
出版商
Pergamon
简介
Although only 20–50% of individuals with dementia are diagnosed, early diagnosis enables patients and families to access interventions and services, and plan for the future. The current study explored the experiences of rural family caregivers in the period leading up to a diagnostic assessment at a Canadian memory clinic, their hopes and expectations of the assessment, and their experiences in the six months following diagnosis. Using a longitudinal, retrospective and prospective qualitative research design, caregivers of 30 patients referred to the clinic were interviewed during the diagnostic assessment process and again six months after the diagnosis. Most caregivers reported first noticing symptoms two years prior to diagnosis. The pre-diagnostic interviews revealed a prevalent ‘need to know’ among caregivers that drove the help-seeking process. Caregivers hoped that the diagnosis would have the …
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DG Morgan, S Walls-Ingram, A Cammer, ME O'Connell… - Social Science & Medicine, 2014