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A case study evaluation protocol to assess processes, effectiveness and impact of a nurse practitioner-led memory clinic
Citation
Bentley, M and Minstrell, M and Bucher, H and Morrissey, M and Robinson, A and Stirling, C, A case study evaluation protocol to assess processes, effectiveness and impact of a nurse practitioner-led memory clinic, Health, 6, (8) pp. 748-756. ISSN 1363-4593 (2014) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 The Authors
DOI: doi:10.4236/health.2014.68096
Abstract
The prevalence of dementia is predicted to increase significantly as the population ages and with
no foreseeable cure options the burden of dementia will continue to grow. Early diagnosis provides
many benefits, including timely access to appropriate support services and provision of tailored
therapeutic interventions for people with dementia and their carers. Memory clinics are a
key response to the need for specialist assessment and diagnosis of dementia. Multidisciplinary
team memory clinics are considered the "gold standard"; however, such resource intensive clinics
are likely unsustainable. The nurse-led memory clinic format may provide a primary care focused,
diagnostic service for dementia that does not have the cost implications of multidisciplinary
memory clinics but there is limited research using nurse practitioners. This study is exploring the
potential of a nurse-led memory clinic as a primary health care approach to health promotion
(brain health awareness), disease prevention (risk factor reduction) and early intervention (diagnosis
and management of dementia). A realistic evaluation of a nurse practitioner-led memory
clinic is described. Realistic evaluation is concerned not only with the outcomes of an intervention
but also with the context and mechanisms of the intervention. We are using a mixed methods case
study design to describe and evaluate the impact of the nurse practitioner-led memory clinic. The
nurse practitioner in this study is an advanced practice aged care nurse who focuses on mental
health, and dementia diagnosis, management and risk factor reduction. This study seeks to inform
the development of an expanded scope role for nurse practitioners in assessment and referrals for
dementia diagnosis. The heterogeneity of clients attending the nurse-led memory clinic will allow
us to evaluate what works in the memory clinic, for whom, and under what circumstances, in what
respects, and to what extent.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | Australia, realistic evaluation, dementia diagnosis, nurse practitioner, memory clinic, protocol |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Health services and systems |
Research Field: | Aged health care |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Mental health |
UTAS Author: | Bentley, M (Dr Michael Bentley) |
UTAS Author: | Minstrell, M (Dr Melinda Minstrell) |
UTAS Author: | Robinson, A (Professor Andrew Robinson) |
UTAS Author: | Stirling, C (Professor Christine Stirling) |
ID Code: | 92150 |
Year Published: | 2014 |
Deposited By: | Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre |
Deposited On: | 2014-06-06 |
Last Modified: | 2017-11-03 |
Downloads: | 340 View Download Statistics |
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