OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop a working definition of stability of home-based care arrangements for people with dementia, which can be applied in current and future research projects at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases in Witten (DZNE Witten) and others.
METHODS: Ensuing from prior research a preliminary version of the definition was formulated. This definition was discussed in a focus group of scientific experts with expertise in dementia research and care (n = 8). After data analysis using content analysis, the definition was revised during a scientific colloquium (n = 18) and a consensus was finally reached.
RESULTS: There were four major themes which were considered by the experts as being relevant for the definition of stability: (1) creating and maintaining stability as a continuous adaptation process, (2) a qualitative component of stability, (3) persons with dementia and informal carers as pivotal players and (4) transitions to residential care.
CONCLUSIONS: The working definition introduced in this article reflects the authors\' understanding of the phenomenon of stability of home-based care arrangements for people with dementia. In times of increasing need for evidence-based interventions it is necessary to develop elaborated definitions of complex phenomena in order to be able to systematically evaluate the efficacy of interventions on the basis of a common understanding.
目的:目的是为痴呆症患者建立家庭护理安排稳定性的工作定义,可应用于德国维滕神经退行性疾病中心(DZNEWitten)等的当前和未来研究项目。
方法:根据先前的研究,制定了该定义的初步版本。该定义在具有痴呆症研究和护理专业知识的科学专家焦点小组中进行了讨论(n=8)。在使用内容分析进行数据分析之后,该定义在一次科学座谈会(n=18)中进行了修订,最终达成了共识。
结果:专家认为有四个主要主题与稳定性的定义有关:(1)将稳定性作为持续的适应过程来创建和维护,(2)稳定性的定性组成部分,(3)痴呆症患者和非正式照顾者作为关键角色;(4)过渡到住宿护理。
结论:本文介绍的工作定义反映了作者对痴呆症患者家庭护理安排稳定性现象的理解。在越来越需要基于证据的干预措施的时候,有必要制定复杂现象的详细定义,以便能够在共同理解的基础上系统地评估干预措施的有效性。