Journal article
Caregiver-provider communication about pain in persons with dementia
Dementia (London, England), Vol.21(1), pp.270-286
01/01/2022
DOI: 10.1177/14713012211036868
PMCID: PMC9158475
PMID: 34340587
Abstract
Pain in older persons with dementia is both under-detected and under-managed. Family caregivers can play an important role in addressing these deficiencies by communicating their care recipient's symptoms and behaviors to medical providers, but little is known about how caregivers and providers approach pain-related discussions in the context of dementia. The goal of this study was to explore how ambulatory care providers and family caregivers of persons with dementia view pain communication.
In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with family caregivers (
= 18) and healthcare providers involved in dementia care (
= 16). Interviews focused on three specific content areas: (1) caregivers' roles in communicating about pain in persons with dementia, (2) challenges experienced when communicating about pain in persons with dementia, and (3) strategies and recommendations for optimizing communication in this context. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the constant comparative method of data analysis.
Caregivers and providers described various roles that caregivers assumed in communication processes, such as serving as historians, interpreters, and advocates. They identified two key features of problematic communication-receipt of inadequate information and interpersonal conflict about the care recipient's pain-and articulated how ambiguity around pain and dementia, as well as preexisting beliefs and emotions, contributed to communication challenges. They also offered several suggestions to improve caregiver-provider communication processes, including the use of (1) written records to enhance the accuracy of caregivers' reports and ensure that providers had specific information to inform symptom management and treatment plans, (2) pain scales and follow-up discussions to establish baseline data and clarify treatment recommendations, and (3) collaboration and rapport-building strategies to validate the caregivers' contributions and maximize a team-based decision-making.
Receipt of inadequate information and interpersonal conflict are key challenges to caregiver-provider communication regarding pain in persons with dementia. Written records, pain scales, and rapport-building strategies may help to address these challenges.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Caregiver-provider communication about pain in persons with dementia
- Creators
- Catherine Riffin - Weill Cornell MedicineKarlee Patrick - Kent State UniversitySylvia L Lin - Long Island UniversityM Carrington Reid - Department of Medicine, 12295Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USAKeela Herr - University of IowaKarl A Pillemer - College of Human Ecology, 5922Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Dementia (London, England), Vol.21(1), pp.270-286
- DOI
- 10.1177/14713012211036868
- PMID
- 34340587
- PMCID
- PMC9158475
- NLM abbreviation
- Dementia (London)
- ISSN
- 1471-3012
- eISSN
- 1741-2684
- Grant note
- K24 AG053462 / NIA NIH HHS K01 AG061275 / NIA NIH HHS P30 AG022845 / NIA NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/01/2022
- Academic Unit
- Nursing
- Record Identifier
- 9984370755702771
Metrics
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