REMINISCENCE THERAPY can have a significant effect on patients suffering from dementia, according to research due to be presented at an international nursing conference in Galway next week.
Patients engaged in the therapy tend to be far less agitated, and the focus on psycho-social needs benefits both patients and staff, the research at National University of Ireland Galway (NUIG) School of Nursing and Midwifery has found.
Reminiscence therapy involves discussing past activities, events and experiences in an individual or group setting, often using aids such as videos, pictures, books and archival material.
NUIG is currently running a project funded by the Health Research Board known as DARES (Dementia Education Programme incorporating Reminiscence Therapy for Staff), which involves training staff to use the approach.
Prof Kathy Murphy, head of NUIG’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, said the incidence of dementia in long-stay care was estimated at 20-30 per cent.
“However, in some instances, it can be up to 50 per cent in residential care, and staff tend to be general nurses who feel that the dementia condition would be more appropriately treated by psychiatric nurses.
“This programme meets the staff needs, and the needs of patients, by helping them to understand dementia better,” she explained.
“There is much more focus now on the psycho-social needs in residential care, and this therapy helps people with this condition to know their history and their past.”
NUIG’s second International Nursing and Midwifery conference will also hear about separate research done at the college on managing chronic illness in a primary care setting.
About 3 per cent of the population suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and pulmonary rehabilitation can alleviate the condition.
NUIG is currently training nurses to deliver the rehabilitation with a physiotherapist, with a view to providing the service in communities.
“To date, this rehabilitation tends to take place in an acute hospital setting, but it means that people have to travel and it adds to the stress of their condition,” Prof Murphy said.
The conference will hear a presentation from part-time lecturer Rachel Comer on qualitative cervical screening research, which shows a disparity among Irish women, depending on their age, regarding their attitude to smear tests.
Building and promoting excellence in practiceis the theme of the nursing conference, which will focus on five main themes: chronic illness; older people; maternity care and women's health; community and population health; and teaching and learning practice.
Dr Loretta Sweet Jemmott of the University of Pennsylvania’s school of nursing in the US will open the conference, and will speak on the impact of research on the effectiveness of HIV education.
With her husband, Dr John B Jemmott III, she has secured extensive funding of $92.5 million (€70.31 million) to conduct HIV risk-reduction trials in various settings, including schools, community-based organisations, housing developments, clinical settings, and churches.
More information on the conference, which runs from April 6th to 7th at NUIG, is on the website nursingmidwifery.ie
