The change in coping strategies among Japanese family carers for people with dementia –A qualitative study–

Conference: 
SAPC ASM 2019 - Exeter
Talk Code: 
P2.23
Presenter: 
Yudai Tamada
Co-authors: 
Mina Suematsu1), Noriyuki Takahashi1), Kentaro Okazaki1), Etsuko Fuchita2), Manako Hanya3), Keiko Abe4), Masafumi Kuzuya1), Morag McFadyen5), Sundari Joseph6), Lesley Diack5)
Author institutions: 
1) Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan, 2) Nagoya University School of Health Science, Japan, 3)Department of pharmacy, Meijo University, Japan, 4)Critical Care Nursing, Aichi Medical University, Japan, 5) School of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK, 6)Learning and Development Lead at Together in Dementia Everyday and Life Story Network, UK

Problem

In Japan, the number of people living with dementia is increasing. The Japanese government is promoting home care and therefore the number of family carers will expand. Most family carers have neither the experience nor appropriate knowledge for dementia care. Dementia care is more stressful for family carers compared with providing care for people who have a physical impairment (Schulz R et al. 2004). Thus, it is essential for carers to be aware how to cope with their stress.Five coping strategies have been identified for carers: Positive Acceptance of Caregiving Role; Formal Support Seeking; Informal Support Seeking; Diversion; Keeping Their Own Pace (Okabayashi et al. 1999). However, there have been few articles reporting any change in coping strategies. The aim of this study is to identify the change in coping strategies among Japanese family carers for people living with dementia.

Approach

This was a qualitative study with two focus groups. Participants were recruited through convenience sampling. Interviews included the following questions, “Can you tell me how you found out or who told you how to care the person living with dementia?” “Can you tell me with whom you consulted when you have problems about caring?” The transcriptions were analysed using the “Steps for Coding And Theorization” (SCAT) method. The five coping strategies of carers were used as a framework for analysis. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Nagoya University School of Medicine.

Findings

Our results showed gradual change within the coping strategies of the individuals. Two factors (internet and social network, connection with community) promoted the change from acceptance to seeking support for the carer role. Informal Support Seeking was classified into three types of advisers as family, neighbourhood and other carers. Nowadays, Japan has many carer support organisations such as Alzheimer’s Association Japan, which actively support the change from formal to informal support seeking, because carers perceived that stress was relieved by talking with other carers. However, if each family member had a different awareness of care, the change was not so apparent.

Consequences

To prevent carers’ burnout, carers must be supported to develop coping strategies. As carers engaged in their care role for longer, their role in caring became more stressful. From the interviews, Informal Support Seeking was the key coping strategies to promote most development because the strategy relieves stress. Furthermore, if family members had a same direction of awareness of care, the change in coping strategies would be promoted. In fact, most carers are over 60s, with few in their 20s or 30s involved in dementia care. This may make the different awareness of care among family carers. In conclusion, we identified the change in coping strategies among Japanese family carers for that people with dementia.

Submitted by: 
Yudai Tamada
Funding acknowledgement: 
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research(C) Funded from JSPS (Japan Society for Promotion for Science) 2018, Chukyo medical research society for the promotion of longevity 2018