NCT06937541 · RECRUITING
Family Interventions iN Dementia Mental Health Environments
This study is not a drug or treatment trial. It is UK-based research aimed at understanding what family carers go through when a loved one with dementia is admitted to a mental health ward. Researchers will survey wards, interview carers and staff, observe daily ward life, and use what they learn to design practical support strategies. There is no phase, because no intervention is being tested on patients.
Eligibility criteria
Survey Inclusion Criteria: * Ward managers of mental health wards that provides care to PLWD * Ward managers from NHS wards that provides care to PLWD * Ward managers from private providers that provides care to PLWD * Ward managers that work on organic or mixed wards that provides care to PLWD Exclusion Criteria: * Functional older adult mental health wards that do not provide care to PLWD * Staff members who are not the ward manager Longitudinal interviews with current carers Inclusion criteria: * Family member (any relationship) or friend of a PLWD currently receiving care on a mental health ward * Aged 18 years old or above * Has capacity to consent to participate in an interview * Willing to take part in 3 interviews over 12 months Exclusion criteria: * The carer is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation. * The carer is under 18 years old * The carer does not have capacity to consent to participate in an interview Interviews with discharged carers Inclusion criteria: * Family member (any relationship) or friend of a PLWD discharged from the ward within the last 3 years * Aged 18 years old or above * Has capacity to consent to participate in an interview * Willing to take part in an interview Exclusion criteria: * The carer is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation * The carer is under 18 years old * The carer does not have capacity to consent to participate in an interview Interviews with People Living With Dementia (PLWD) Inclusion criteria: * PLWD currently under the care of the mental health ward * PLWD discharged from the care of a dementia mental health ward within the last 3 years * Has capacity to give informed consent to taking part in an interview * Willing to take part in an interview alongside their carer Exclusion criteria: * The PLWD is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation * The PLWD does not have capacity to consent to participate in an interview * The PLWD is not willing to take part in an interview alongside their carer * The PLWD has been discharged from the care of a dementia mental health ward for more than 3 years Co-design study - PLWD and carers Inclusion criteria: * PLWD who may, or may not, have experience of dementia mental health wards * Carers (family members or friends) of PLWD who may, or may not, have experience of dementia mental health wards * Willing to talk about mental health and dementia * Aged 18 years old or above * Have capacity to give informed consent Exclusion criteria: * Participants who do not have experience of living with, or caring for someone with, dementia * Not willing to talk about mental health and dementia * Aged under 18 years old * Does not have capacity to give informed consent Co-design study - staff Inclusion criteria: * Members of staff working within mental health wards for PLWD * Members of staff of any professional group in a role that involves contact with carers (e.g. health care assistants, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, family therapists, psychiatrists etc) * Members of staff of any pay band or grade * Students on placement in a mental health ward * Members of staff working on NHS or private wards Exclusion criteria: * The staff member is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation * Members of staff that do not work within mental health wards for PLWD Feasibility study - PLWD and carers Inclusion criteria: * PLWD * Carer (family or friend; current or bereaved) * Willing to review outputs related to mental health wards * Aged 18 years old or above * Capacity to consent to take part Exclusion criteria: * The participant (PLWD or carer) is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation. * Is not willing to review outputs related to mental health wards * Aged under 18 years old * Does not have capacity to consent to take part Feasibility study - staff Inclusion criteria: * Members of staff working within mental health wards for PLWD * Members of staff of any professional group in a role that involves contact with carers (e.g. health care assistants, nurses, occupational therapists, psychologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, family therapists, psychiatrists etc) * Members of staff of any pay band or grade * Students on placement in a mental health ward * Members of staff working on NHS or private wards Exclusion criteria: * The staff member is actively involved in a safeguarding investigation * Members of staff that do not work within mental health wards for PLWD
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2025-06-13