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Evaluation of the implementation of the Meeting Centres Support Program in Italy, Poland, and the UK; exploration of the effects on people with dementia
Author(s) -
Brooker Dawn,
Evans Simon,
Evans Shirley,
Bray Jennifer,
Saibene Francesca Lea,
Scorolli Claudia,
Szcześniak Dorota,
d'Arma Alessia,
Urbańska Katarzyna M.,
Atkinson Teresa,
Farina Elisabetta,
Rymaszewska Joanna,
Chattat Rabih,
Henderson Catherine,
Rehill Amritpal,
Hendriks Iris,
Meiland Franka,
Dröes RoseMarie
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.4865
Subject(s) - dementia , attendance , feeling , quality of life (healthcare) , gerontology , depression (economics) , medicine , test (biology) , affect (linguistics) , psychology , nursing , social psychology , paleontology , disease , communication , biology , economics , macroeconomics , economic growth
Objectives MEETINGDEM investigated whether the Dutch Meeting Centres Support Programme (MCSP) could be implemented in Italy, Poland, and the UK with comparable benefits. This paper reports on the impact on people living with dementia attending pilot Meeting Centres in the 3 countries. Methods Nine pilot Meeting Centres (MCs) participated (Italy—5, Poland—2, UK—2). Effectiveness of MCSP was compared with Usual Care (UC) on outcomes measuring behavioural and psychological symptoms (NPI), depression (CSDD), and quality of life (DQoL, QOL‐AD), analysed by ANCOVAs in a 6‐month pre‐test/post‐test controlled trial. Results Pre/post data were collected for 85 people with dementia and 93 carers (MCSP) and 74 people with dementia /carer dyads' receiving UC. MCSP showed significant positive effects for DQoL [Self‐esteem (F = 4.8, P = 0.03); Positive Affect (F = 14.93, P < 0.00); Feelings of Belonging (F = 7.77, P = 0.01)] with medium and large effect sizes. Higher attendance levels correlated with greater neuropsychiatric symptom reduction (rho = 0.24, P = 0.03) and a greater increase in feelings of support (rho = 0.36, P = 0.001). Conclusions MCSPs showed significant wellbeing and health benefits compared with UC, building on the evidence of effectiveness from the Netherlands. In addition to the previously reported successful implementation of MCSP in Italy, Poland, and the UK, these findings suggest that further international dissemination of MCSP is recommended.