Eamon O’Shea

Estimating the economic and social costs of dementia in Ireland

Dementia is a costly condition and one that differs from other conditions in the significant cost burden placed on informal caregivers. The aim of this analysis was to estimate the economic and social costs of dementia in Ireland in 2010. With an estimate of 41,470 people with dementia, the total baseline annual cost was found to be over €1.69 billion, 48% of which was attributable to the opportunity cost of informal care provided by family and friends and 43% to residential care. Due to the impact of demographic ageing in the coming decades and the expected increase in the number of people with dementia, family caregivers and the general health and social care system will come under increasing pressure to provide adequate levels of care. Without a significant increase in the amount of resources devoted to dementia, it is unclear how the system will cope in the future.

Reminiscence in dementia: a concept analysis.

This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of reminiscence in dementia and highlights its uses as a therapeutic intervention used on individuals with dementia. No single definition of reminiscence exists in healthcare literature; however, definitions offered have similar components. The term life review is commonly used when discussing reminiscence; however, both terms are quite different in their goals, theory base and content. This concept analysis identified reminiscence as a process which occurs in stages, involving the recalling of early life events and interaction between individuals. The antecedents of reminiscence are age, life transitions, attention span, ability to recall, ability to vocalise and stressful situations. Reminiscence can lead to positive mental health, enhanced self esteem and improved communication skills. It also facilitates preparation for death, increases interaction between people, prepares for the future and evaluates a past life. Reminiscence therapy is used extensively in dementia care and evidence shows when used effectively it helps individuals retain a sense of self worth, identity and individuality.

The welfare implications of disability for older people in Ireland.

Recent data analysed for Ireland suggest a strong link between disability status and household poverty, while there exists substantial evidence to suggest that disability is highly prevalent among persons of older age. Within this context, this paper estimates the welfare implications of disability for older people in Ireland. We define and estimate models of the private costs borne by households with older persons who have a disability in Ireland, both in general and by severity of illness or condition. Our modelling framework is based on the standard of living approach to estimating the cost of disability. The model quantifies the extra costs of living associated with disability and is estimated by comparing the standard of living of households with and without disabled members at a given income, controlling for other sources of variation. The analysis suggests that the estimated economic cost of disability for older people in Ireland is significant and varies by severity of disability, as well as by household type. The results also suggest that the cost of disability increases in proportionate terms as the number of people in the household decreases. Our results are important when considering the effectiveness of policies that aim to address the economic problems associated with disability for older people, suggesting that current policy in Ireland does not go far enough. They indicate that older people face a double jeopardy through age and disability, which is not reflected in official poverty rates and support the case for the introduction of disability-adjusted poverty payments.

Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural therapy-based rehabilitation programme (Progressive Goal Attainment Program) for patients who are work-disabled due to back pain: study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial

BackgroundPsychologically informed rehabilitation programmes such as the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP) have the potential to address pain-related disability by targeting known psychological factors that inhibit rehabilitation progress. However, no randomised controlled trials of this intervention exist and it has not been evaluated in the Irish health service context. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of the PGAP in a multicentre randomised controlled trial with patients who are work-disabled due to back pain.Methods and designAdult patients (ages 18 years and older) with nonmalignant back pain who are work-disabled because of chronic pain and not involved in litigation in relation to their pain were invited to take part. Patients were those who show at least one elevated psychosocial risk factor (above the 50th percentile) on pain disability, fear-based activity avoidance, fatigue, depression or pain catastrophizing. Following screening, patients are randomised equally to the intervention or control condition within each of the seven trial locations. Patients allocated to the control condition receive usual medical care only. Patients allocated to the PGAP intervention condition attend a maximum of 10 weekly individual sessions of structured active rehabilitation in addition to usual care. Sessions are delivered by a clinical psychologist and focus on graded activity, goal-setting, pacing activity and cognitive-behavioural therapy techniques to address possible barriers to rehabilitation.The primary analysis will be based on the amount of change on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire posttreatment. We will also measure changes in work status, pain intensity, catastrophizing, depression, fear avoidance and fatigue. Outcome measures are collected at baseline, posttreatment and 12-month follow-up. Health-related resource use is also collected pre- and posttreatment and at 12-month follow-up to evaluate cost-effectiveness.DiscussionThis study will be the first randomized controlled trial of the PGAP in chronic pain patients and will provide important information about the clinical and cost effectiveness of the programme as well as its feasibility in the context of the Irish health service.Trial registrationCurrent Controlled Trials: ISRCTN61650533

Supporting the improvement and management of prescribing for urinary tract infections (SIMPle): protocol for a cluster randomized trial

BackgroundThe overuse of antimicrobials is recognized as the main selective pressure driving the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance in human bacterial pathogens. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common infections presented in primary care and empirical antimicrobial treatment is currently recommended. Previous research has identified that a substantial proportion of Irish general practitioners (GPs) prescribe antimicrobials for UTIs that are not in accordance with the Guidelines for Antimicrobial Prescribing in Primary Care in Ireland. The aim of this trial is to design, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention on GP antimicrobial prescribing and adult (18 years of age and over) patients’ antimicrobial consumption when presenting with a suspected UTI.Methods/designThe Supporting the Improvement and Management of Prescribing for urinary tract infections (SIMPle) study is a three-armed intervention with practice-level randomization. Adult patients presenting with suspected UTIs in primary care will be included in the study.The intervention integrates components for both GPs and patients. For GPs the intervention includes interactive workshops, audit and feedback reports and automated electronic prompts summarizing recommended first-line antimicrobial treatment and, for one intervention arm, a recommendation to consider delayed antimicrobial treatment. For patients, multimedia applications and information leaflets are included. Thirty practices will be recruited to the study; laboratory data indicate that 2,038 patients will be prescribed an antimicrobial in the study. The primary outcome is a change in prescribing of first-line antimicrobials for UTIs in accordance with the Guidelines for Antimicrobial Prescribing in Primary Care in Ireland. The study will take place over 15 months with a six-month intervention period. Data will be collected through a remote electronic anonymized data-extraction system, a text-messaging system and GP and patient interviews and surveys. The intervention will be strengthened by the implementation of a social marketing framework and an economic evaluation.Trial registrationThis intervention is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, IDNCT01913860.

The Perceived Benefits of Participating in Voluntary Activities Among Older People: Do They Differ by Volunteer Characteristics?

Previous research has linked volunteering with a catalog of well-being indicators; however, it is unclear whether all volunteers derive the same benefit. The aim of this article is to examine the perceived benefits of volunteering among older people and to determine whether the benefits differ by volunteer characteristics. The study found that volunteers reported a wide range of benefits emerging from their volunteering, including increased socialization and self-worth. There was some evidence to suggest that benefits vary by volunteer characteristics with the older-old, the less educated, and the retired reporting the greatest benefit. In addition, different subgroups may benefit in different ways. Recognizing and responding to the potential benefits of volunteering to different groups is important in the recruitment and retention of volunteers.

Reforming Health Production in Ireland

The importance of socioeconomic conditions for health status has long since been recognised internationally, and there is general agreement that maximising health production requires action on all social, economic and environmental factors potentially influencing health status. In Ireland too, the multifaceted nature of health production has been acknowledged, but this has not led to real policy change in respect of prioritisation and consequent resource allocation. The emphasis in Ireland remains narrowly focused on access to acute health care services as the core strategy for equalising health opportunities across the population. While equal access for equal need is an essential component in ensuring better, and more equal, health outcomes, particularly in relation to accessing new technologies, it is insufficient in its own right to deal with many of the economic and social determinants associated with health production. This paper argues for a comprehensive health reform programme to encompass the many determinants of population health; such an approach would provide the opportunity for all citizens to maximise their health potential.

Respite in dementia: An evolutionary concept analysis

Aim There is a lack of conceptual clarity around ‘respite’ as it relates to people with dementia and their carers. This study provides clarification on the use and meaning of the term and considers the concept in relation to the dominant care paradigm in dementia, i.e. person-centred care. Methods Rodgers’ (1989) evolutionary framework was employed. A systematic search was conducted on the Pubmed/MedLine, Embase, Cinahl, PsychInfo, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane databases (1980–2016, English) with fixed search terms relating to ‘respite’ and ‘dementia’. Papers with primary qualitative data and literature reviews were included. This search was supplemented with snowballing techniques (back/forward searching, generic search engines). Data were analysed thematically, through an iterative process of constant comparison. Results Respite is understood both as a service that provides a physical break for the carer and as a psychological outcome, i.e. a mental break for the carer, which can be facilitated by formal services, under certain conditions. The conceptual model outlines how client factors (dyadic relations, recognising/accepting need, carer psychosocial issues, restorative occupation, and stigma) and service factors (model/characteristics, care quality, staff expertise, meaningful occupation for people with dementia and communication and support), interact to influence a respite outcome. The key antecedent for a positive respite experience is that the carer perceives that mutual benefit is garnered from service use. Conclusion The term respite can be interpreted as both a service and an outcome. However, it is clear that ‘respite’, as currently understood, acknowledges the relational experience of the carer only; it is, therefore, potentially damaging to the planning and delivery of person-centred dementia care. We suggest ‘restorative care’ as a potential alternative nomenclature to respite care, thereby highlighting the importance of providing mutual, personalised health and social care services that serve to enhance care relationships rather than diminish them.

Personhood, dementia policy and the Irish National Dementia Strategy

Personhood and its realisation in person-centred care is part of the narrative, if not always the reality, of care for people with dementia. This paper examines how personhood is conceptualised and actualised in Ireland through a content analysis of organisational and individual submissions from stakeholders in the development of the Irish National Dementia Strategy, followed by an examination of the Strategy itself. The organisational submissions are further categorised into dementia care models. A structural analysis of the Strategy examines its principles, actions and outcomes in relation to personhood. Of the 72 organisational and individual submissions received in the formulation of the Strategy, 61% contained references to personhood and its synonyms. Of the 35 organisational submissions, 40% fit a biomedical model, 31% a social model and 29% a biopsychosocial model. The Strategy contains one direct reference to personhood and 33 to personhood synonyms. Half of these references were contained within its key principles and objectives; none were associated with priority actions or outcomes. While stakeholders value personhood and the Strategy identifies personhood as an overarching principle, clearer direction on how personhood and person-centred care can be supported in practice and through regulation is necessary in Ireland. The challenge, therefore, is to provide the information, knowledge, incentives and resources for personhood to take hold in dementia care in Ireland.

Philanthropy and dementia care in Ireland

This paper examines The Atlantic Philanthropies investment in dementia in Ireland and its impact on the dementia landscape, particularly in relation to policy. Atlantic has directly invested €33 million in dementia in Ireland and leveraged a further €51 million from grantees, resulting in a total spend of €83 million between 2011 and 2016. The investment was broad and far reaching, encapsulating support for personalised community-based care, brain health, advocacy, education and training in dementia, culminating in support for the formulation and implementation of the first National Dementia Strategy in Ireland. Investing in the right people was a key feature of the Atlantic programme and one of the main drivers of its success. A close and credible relationship with government was also important for success. So too was an emphasis on evidence and evaluation, which has been a long-standing trait of Atlantic’s involvement in public policy in Ireland, as well as being influential in overall public service reform in the country. It is difficult to determine what the dementia landscape in Ireland might look like if Atlantic had not invested in the area, but even if one accepts the view that change would have come eventually, Atlantic ensured that it came much faster and in a more coherent manner.