The impact of a structured education reminiscence-based programme for staff on the quality of life of people with memory problems living in long-stay units

ISRCTN	ISRCTN99651465
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN99651465
Protocol serial number	The DARES Study
Sponsor	Health Research Board (Ireland)
Funder	Health Research Board (Ireland) (RP/2008/64)

Submission date: 30/07/2010
Registration date: 12/08/2010
Last edited: 12/09/2011

Recruitment status: No longer recruiting
Overall study status: Completed
Condition category: Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Prof Eamon O'Shea
Scientific

School of Business and Public Policy
National University of Ireland Galway
Galway
-
Ireland

Email	Eamon.oshea@nuigalway.ie

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Study design	Two arm single blind cluster randomised controlled trial
Secondary study design	Randomised controlled trial
Study type	Participant information sheet
Scientific title	A cluster randomised trial on the effectiveness of a structured education reminiscence-based programme for staff on the quality of life of residents with dementia in long-stay units
Study acronym	DARES (DementiA Education Programme Incorporating REminiscence Therapy for Staff)
Study objectives	Aims: 1. To develop a comprehensive structured education reminiscence-based programme for staff (SERPS) that is specifically orientated toward incorporating reminiscence in the care of residents with dementia 2. To evaluate the effectiveness of the SERPS within the context of a cluster randomised trial 3. To understand participants (staff and people with dementia) perceptions of the SERPS, its impact on their lives and experience of care Please note that as of 19/10/10 the primary and secondary outcomes sections of this record have been updated. Please also note that these changes have been implemented prior to any post randomisation data collection. More information can be found in the relevant field with the above update date.
Ethics approval(s)	1. The Research Ethics Committee of the National University of Ireland, Galway approved on the 20th of November 2008. 2. Ethics approval was also obtained from the appropriate ethics committees responsible for trials within the selected public clinical sites
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Dementia
Intervention	Staff participants in long-stay units randomised to the experimental arm will attend the DARES structured education reminiscence-based programme for staff (SERPS), which will be delivered over three days; starting with two consecutive days and a third day, 6 weeks later. The DARES research team will provide telephone support to staff participants during the study period (22-25 weeks post randomisation) and will conduct one support visit to each unit within this period. The SERPS is founded on the DARES programme philosophy of empowerment of staff participants, including identifying what participants perceive to be important and what they feel they need to know. The concepts of learner-centeredness and adult learning are at the core of the programme, and those teaching the programme will adopt a facilitator-participant role, as this is considered central to modelling an empowerment philosophy. Staff participants will be trained to enable them to incorporate reminiscence in the care of residents with dementia.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	Quality of Life of residents as measured by the Quality of Life-AD (QOL-AD) instrument (Logsdon et al 1999). Current information as of 19/10/10: All outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 18 to 22 weeks post randomisation. Initial information at time of registration: All outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 22 to 25 weeks post randomisation.
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	1. Agitation, measured using the Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI) 2. Depression, measured using the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia 3. Staff attitudes to residents with dementia and perceived care burden will be assessed using a modified version of the Zarit Burden Interview Current information as of 19/10/10: All outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at 18 to 22 weeks post randomisation. Initial information at time of registration: All outcomes will be measured at baseline and at 22 to 25 weeks post randomisation.
Completion date	30/11/2011

Eligibility

Participant type(s)	Patient
Age group	Not Specified
Sex	Not Specified
Target sample size at registration	306
Key inclusion criteria	Patients: 1. Residents who have lived in the residential unit for at least one month and are likely to be there for the duration of the study 2. Residents with dementia. Diagnosis may be determined in any of the following ways: 2.1. A formal diagnosis of dementia determined by the DSM-1V criteria for dementia (American Psychiatric Association 1995) 2.2. Any other diagnosis of dementia by a medical clinician 2.3. Resident is on anti-Alzheimers medications, including Aricept (donepezil), Ebixa (memantine) and Exelon (rivastigmine) 2.4. Nurses judgement and/or nursing records advise that the person has dementia Study sites: Public and private long-stay units across the Western seaboard of the Republic of Ireland who meet the eligibility criteria will be invited to participate. 1. Have 17 residents with dementia who agree to take part 2. A commitment from management of the long-stay unit and the clinical staff to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria	Patients: 1. Has a sensory impairment that, in the judgment of the nursing staff, impairs their ability to participate 2. Has an acute physical illness that, in the judgment of the nursing staff, impairs their ability to participate
Date of first enrolment	01/12/2008
Date of final enrolment	30/11/2011

Locations

Countries of recruitment

Ireland

Study participating centre

School of Business and Public Policy

Galway
-
Ireland

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not provided at time of registration
IPD sharing plan

Study outputs

Output type	Details	Date created	Date added	Peer reviewed?	Patient-facing?
Protocol article	protocol	14/02/2011		Yes	No
Participant information sheet	Participant information sheet	11/11/2025	11/11/2025	No	Yes