Edinburgh Napier University

  The QNIS study explored hospital visiting time for people with dementia from the
perspective of professional care givers. This was important because older people with
dementia experience significant health inequalities compared to those without a dementia
diagnosis. This includes poorer outcomes from a hospital stay. Research has shown that
participating in meaningful activity creates improved conditions for health. Alongside this,
family members are becoming more involved in the day-to-day care of people with
dementia when they are in hospital. As a marginalised group, family care givers might also
experience health inequalities.
Study Aims
The intention of the QNIS catalyst study was to explore, discover, and start to co-create, an
intervention by beginning to understand visiting time. The overarching aims of ‘Our Visit’
are ongoing and include:
1. To collaboratively develop an intervention and ‘resource kit’ as appropriate-currently
named ‘Our Visit’- to stimulate meaningful activity participation together
2. To co-create a method to embed ‘Our Visit’ into visiting times
3. To provide strategic recommendations as to the future development of services in
line with Commitment 11
This QNIS study had the additional aim:
4. To develop the ‘research readiness’ of community nurses
Method
Qualitative methodology framed the research, with specific methods applied from
Appreciative Inquiry. Family and professional care givers were invited to participate in the
study by displaying posters and information leaflets around one community hospital. A total
of four professional care givers took part in two focus groups, which were facilitated by two
researchers. No family care givers took part: a significant limitation of the study. Written
informed consent was obtained from participants, and participation was voluntary. Focus
4
groups were audio-recorded, with consent, and the audio transcribed verbatim by a
transcriber. Transcript data were analysed using thematic analysis methods, and potentially
important findings were discussed and considered with participants to discover what might
be important about visiting time.
Ethical Approval
NHS Ethical Approval was granted from West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics
Committee (reference 211544) and The University of the West of Scotland Research Ethics
Committee. Permission was also granted from the local NHS Research and Development
Board.
Findings
Two over-arching findings emerged from the data. First, ‘A Good Visit’, showed how visiting
time might be used by visitors and their family member and may provide an important
bridge between the community and the hospital. Work is still needed to understand how
best to support families during visit time. Second, ‘Meaningful Objects’ illustrated how
physical objects might provide a source of attachment and security for the person with
dementia; could be used to facilitate activity and are a source of potential comfort.
Therapeutic dolls appeared to offer the strongest means of attachment and might have the
potential to complement how people with dementia are supported when they are in
hospital.
Conclusion
Developing an understanding and a way of enhancing visiting time has the potential to
improve the conditions for health both for people with dementia and their care givers.
Outcomes from this project will catalyse larger studies of visiting, not necessarily limited to
hospital environments.