Dissemin is shutting down on January 1st, 2025

Published in

Cambridge University Press, European Psychiatry, S1(41), p. S652-S652, 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpsy.2017.01.1089

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

The Portuguese participation in the Actifcare (access to timely formal care in dementia) European study: Preliminary results of systematic reviews, qualitative and quantitative data

This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Postprint: archiving allowed
Green circle
Published version: archiving allowed
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

IntroductionIn the context of untimely access to community formal services, unmet needs of persons with dementia (PwD) and their carers may compromise their quality of life.Objectives/aimsThe Actifcare EU-JPND project (www.actifcare.eu) focuses on access to and (non) utilization of dementia formal care in eight countries (The Netherlands, Germany, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Italy, Portugal), as related to unmet needs and quality of life. Evaluations included systematic reviews, qualitative explorations, and a European cohort study (PwD in early/intermediate phases and their primary carers; n = 453 days; 1 year follow-up). Preliminary Portuguese results are presented here (FCT-JPND-HC/0001/2012).Methods(1) extensive systematic searches on access to/utilization of services; (2) focus groups of PwD, carers and health/social professionals; (3) prospective study (n = 66 days from e.g., primary care, hospital outpatient services, Alzheimer Portugal).ResultsIn Portugal, nationally representative data is scarce regarding health/social services utilization in dementia. There are important barriers to access to community services, according to users, carers and professionals, whose views not always coincide. The Portuguese cohort participants were 66 PwD (62.1% female, 77.3 ± 6.2 years, 55.5% Alzheimer's/mixed subtypes, MMSE 17.8 ± 4.8, CDR1 89.4%) and 66 carers (66.7% female, 64.9 ± 15.0 years, 56.1% spouses), with considerable unmet needs in some domains.ConclusionsAll Actifcare milestones are being reached. The consortium is now analyzing international differences in (un) timely access to services and its impact on quality of life and needs for care (e.g., formal community support is weaker in Portugal than in many European countries). National best-practice recommendations in dementia are also in preparation.Abstract submitted on behalf of the Actifcare Eu-JPND consortium.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.