Carers of people with dementia: Their experience of ward rounds

Abstract

This study examined the experience carers of people with dementia have of inpatient ward rounds in an old age psychiatry service and looked at whether the experience was more stressful for spouses than other carers. Questionnaires were administered over the telephone to 67 carers of dementia sufferers who had attended an inpatient ward round in a district general hospital. The mean time between attendance at a ward round and telephone interview was 29 weeks. Telephone administration of questionnaires resulted in a high response rate and was acceptable to carers. Most carers found that attending the ward round was a positive experience. However, carers needed to know more about the purpose and composition of the ward round in advance. Routine enquiry as to carers' views is important in advance and using telephone questionnaires was a useful way to gather this information.