Communication, cognitive functioning, and feeding and swallowing information needs of caregivers of individuals diagnosed with alzheimer’s disease within a support group setting

dc.contributor.advisorDe Beer, Alidaen_ZA
dc.contributor.advisorBardien, Faezaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLe Roux, Carlaen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. Dept. of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2022-03-11T09:49:46Z
dc.date.accessioned2022-04-29T09:44:05Z
dc.date.available2022-03-11T09:49:46Z
dc.date.available2022-04-29T09:44:05Z
dc.date.issued2022-04
dc.descriptionThesis (MSL&HT)--Stellenbosch University, 2022.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH SUMMARY: Background: The number of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease will rise significantly in the coming years. This is a concern as Alzheimer’s disease affects numerous functions within the scope of the speech-language therapist. However, due to the limited number of speech-language therapists in South Africa, individual speech and language therapy is not a viable option. Support groups may be a more optimal way of providing speech and language therapy service-related information. Objectives: The study aimed to determine the speech therapy-related information needs of caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as their preferred support group structure. The study further aimed to describe common speech and language therapy-related points of discussion at support groups and the current structure of support groups in the Western Cape. Method: A convergent parallel mixed method research design was used, and qualitative and quantitative data were collected simultaneously. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, whilst an online survey was used to collect data from support group facilitators. Results: The results indicated that caregivers had both directly stated, as well as indirectly stated information and support needs. Caregivers had more directly stated information and support needs about cognitive functioning than communication or feeding and swallowing. Their information and support needs were influenced by the current level of functioning of the individual with AD, caregivers’ perceptions about the features of AD and their management, as well as acceptance of these difficulties. Caregivers did, however, have more indirectly stated information needs about communication as well as feeding and swallowing. There were also discrepancies identified between caregivers’ support group structure preferences and the current support group structure in the Western Cape. Conclusion: The factors driving caregivers’ information and support needs guide the information provided at support groups. As much information and support needs are indirectly stated, these needs may likely not be expressed in support groups. Subsequently, caregivers’ knowledge about these areas of difficulty may remain limited. This may negatively affect caregiver understanding-and management of these difficulties. Furthermore, accessibility of support groups may be negatively impacted by the discrepancies between caregiver preferences and current support group structure.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Die aantal individue met Alzheimer’s se siekte sal beduidend toeneem in die komende jare. Dit is kommerwekkend aangesien Alzheimer’s se siekte verskeie funksies binne die omvang van die spraak-taal terapeut se fokus affekteer. Weens die beperkte getal spraak-taal terapeute in Suid-Afrika, is individuele spraakterapie nie ‘n haalbare opsie nie. Ondersteuningsgroepe mag ‘n meer optimale manier wees vir die oordra van spraak- en taal terapie diens-verwante inligting. Doelwitte: Die studie poog om die spraakterapie-verwante inligtingsbehoeftes van versorgers van individue met Alzheimer’s se siekte, asook die ondersteuningsgroep struktuur wat hulle verkies, te bepaal. Die studie beskryf ook algemene spraakterapie-verwante besprekingspunte in ondersteuningsgroepe en die huidige struktuur van ondersteuningsgroepe in die Wes-Kaap. Metode: ‘n Konvergente parallelle gemengde metode navorsingsontwerp is gebruik en kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe data is gelyktydig versamel. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met versorgers van individue met Alzheimer’s se siekte, terwyl ‘n aanlyn opname gebruik is om data van ondersteuningsgroep fasiliteerders te versamel. Resultate: Die resultate dui aan dat versorgers beide direk-gestelde, asook indirek-gestelde inligtings- en ondersteuningsbehoeftes het. Versorgers het meer direk-gestelde inligting- en ondersteuningsbehoeftes oor kognitiewe funksionering as oor kommunikasie of voeding en sluk. Versorgers se inligting- en ondersteuningsbehoeftes is beïnvloed deur die huidige vlak van funksionering van die individu met Alzheimer’s se siekte, versorgers se persepsies oor die kenmerke van Alzheimer’s se siekte en die behandeling daarvan, asook aanvaarding van probleme. Indirek-gestelde inligtingsbehoeftes was meer oor kommunikasie asook voeding en sluk. Teenstrydighede tussen versorgers se ondersteuningsgroepstruktuur voorkeure en die huidige struktuur van ondersteuningsgroepe in die Wes-Kaap is ook identifiseer. Gevolgtrekking: Die faktore wat versorgers se inligting- en ondersteuningbehoeftes dryf, bepaal die inligting wat by ondersteuningsgroepe verskaf word. Aangesien inligting- en ondersteuningsbehoeftes dikwels indirek gestel word, word hierdie behoeftes moontlik nie in ondersteuningsgroepe uitgespel nie. Gevolglik kan versorgers se kennis van hierdie probleemareas beperk bly. Dit kan ‘n negatiewe effek op versorgers se begrip- en behandeling van hierdie probleme hê. Verder, weens die teenstrydighede tussen versorgers se voorkeure en die huidige ondersteuningsgroep struktuur, kan toeganklikheid van ondersteuningsgroepe negatief beïnvloed word.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMasters
dc.format.extentx, 131 pages : illustrations, includes annexures
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/124969
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch University
dc.subjectAlzheimer's disease -- Patients -- South Africa -- Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subjectAlzheimer's disease -- South Africa -- Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subjectAlzheimer's disease -- Patients -- Home care -- South Africa -- Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subjectAlzheimer's disease -- Patients -- Care -- South Africa -- Western Capeen_ZA
dc.subjectUCTD
dc.titleCommunication, cognitive functioning, and feeding and swallowing information needs of caregivers of individuals diagnosed with alzheimer’s disease within a support group settingen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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