Philip B. Clarke

Finding Your New Normal: Outcomes of a Wellness-Oriented Psychoeducational Support Group for Cancer Survivors

Group interventions have been useful for survivors to overcome the challenges of cancer. This study employed a pre/post, mixed-methods design to explore the influence of an 8-week support group on the holistic wellness of 14 breast cancer survivors. Pairing experiential activities with wellness-centered psychoeducation was viewed positively by participants and corresponded to increased scores on the Five Factor Wellness Inventory. Interview data generated insight for future group work with cancer survivors. Notably, care should be taken to consider the varied individual cancer experiences and it may be worthwhile to structure groups so that members can “pay forward” their new knowledge.

Therapeutic Interactions to Enhance the Mental Health and Wellness of Dementia Caregivers and Patients

Individuals with dementia and their family caregivers have higher rates of stress and mental health concerns than the general population. Gerontological nurses have unique and valuable opportunities to conduct therapeutic interactions that support the mental health and well-being of patients and family members. Information regarding dementia patient and family caregiver stressors are presented, followed by engaging strategies for opening therapeutic conversations about these topics. Ways in which gerontological nurses can facilitate coping skills and strengths identification are also outlined.

CARE TRAIN: THE PILOT STUDY OF A LAY-LED SUPPORT GROUP FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CAREGIVERS

P2-558 CARE TRAIN: THE PILOT STUDY OFA LAY-LED SUPPORT GROUP FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CAREGIVERS Philip Clarke, Alyssa Botte, Edward G. Shaw, Brian M. Calhoun, Nathaniel N. Ivers, Rabeeba Alli, Sara W. Bailey, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Health, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Wake Forest Baptist Health, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Loyola University Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA; University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, USA. Contact e-mail: clarkepb@wfu.edu

Actors in the Classroom: The Dramatic Pedagogy Model of Counselor Education

ABSTRACT Role playing is a fundamental component in the training of counselors to use counseling skills. However, role play activities commonly involve counseling students as clients or actors and hence have notable limitations. One training method widely practiced in the medical profession is the use of professional actors as patients. Although there are some examples in the literature of studies that have used actors for counselor training, most address only a specific topic or skill set. In this article, the authors propose the dramatic pedagogy model (DPM) as a comprehensive model for implementing client actors into the education of counselors. The DPM includes a set of pedagogical techniques and a structure for preparing actors and curriculum.

The Motivational Supervisor: Motivational Interviewing as a Clinical Supervision Approach

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based clinical intervention used to elicit motivation for client behavior change. MI as a supervision style involves the same spirit, processes, and techniques used to cultivate supervisee development and change. This article describes the application of MI components to clinical supervision, detailing the processes of engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning. A case example depicting MI supervision is provided.

High neuroticism in caregivers is associated with greater burden independent of degree of cognitive impairment or neuropsychiatric symptoms

Background:There are approximately 800,000 people in the UK diagnosed with dementia. In 2009, the National Dementia Strategy (NDS) sought to improve awareness and access to services for the early diagnosis and support of this patient group 3, with a key aim of a memory clinic in every town. Data published by the Alzheimer Society (www.alzheimers.org.uk) suggest that 63% of people with dementia in Sheffield have been identified and diagnosed. This is one of the highest diagnosis rates in the UK. The memory clinics in Sheffield are divided into a clinic for patients older than 65 and run by old age psychiatry that sees >800 new referrals and the <65 or working age memory clinic run by neurologists, which sees >150 new referrals per year. In this study we reviewed whether raised awareness of dementia has altered the pattern of referrals to a memory clinic.Methods: Service review for all new referrals seen in the <65 memory clinic in Sheffield from 2004, 2006 (both 6 months) & 2012. Results: In 2004 and 2006 showed that approximately 1/3 of patients, whom had been given a diagnosis did not have dementia but had non-progressive memory complaints (either in the context of a mood disorder or Functional Memory disorder defined as subjective memory complaints of duration longer than 6 months, without organic or major psychiatric cause, normal brain imaging and neuropsychological tests of memory above 1.5 SD) but by 2012 this had increased to just over 50%. Conclusions: An early analysis confirms factors previously described in FMD such as work stress (in particular change in work pattern), chronic pain (back pain and migraine) and pre-morbid high achievement with a catastrophising misinterpretation of memory failures as the main triggers of non progressive memory disorders. Raised awareness of the early symptoms of dementia may be increasing the number of inappropriate referrals to memory services and suggests that more should be done to inform practitioners in primary care to achieve better triage. The current economic climate and impact on employment and financial hardship may be contributing to FMD and is also worthy of exploration.

An interdisciplinary counseling center for individuals, couples and families affected by MCI and dementia

Background: Middle Eastern countries have certain cultural, social and economic characteristics in common with similar aspiration. The percentage of elderly in the Middle East is expected to increase with improvement of the health care delivery in the area. The region, like other developing countries, needs to define the policies and programs that will reduce the burden of aging populations on the society and its economy. There is a need to ensure the availability of comprehensive health services for the elderly. Methods: A rising geriatric population, with increasingly unmet health care needs, strongly suggest the necessity for a better educational preparation of those health professions actually or potentially serving them. Results: The absence of sufficient numbers of trained geriatricians and gerontologists, among health professionals, seriously undermines the ability of the country’s health care system to adequately assess, treat, and rehabilitate the growing aging population. This shortage leads to inappropriate care, higher costs, and poorer patient outcomes. Conclusions: As the population age the number of Alzheimer’s patients will increase as well. Specialised services for Alzheimer’s disease in the region are scarce. Usually Alzheimer patients are treated on the same floor of long term stay. There is lack of adequate services for Alzheimer’s patient in the region. Current available services will be reported and at the same time future recommendation will be made.