Acceptability, Appropriateness and Feasibility of a Psychoeducation Tool About Dementia Grief: Results of a Survey Among German Mental Health Care Providers

Abstract

Background: Caregivers of people with dementia experience grief not only after, but also before the death of the care recipient. This is called dementia grief and can be defined as caregivers' emotional responses to non-death losses during the care for persons with dementia. It has a strong clinical relevance because it is associated with various physical and mental health problems. Aims: A psychoeducation sheet about dementia grief was co-designed with dementia experts, informal caregivers, and healthcare professionals. There were three aims: First, we wanted to identify whether providers would find the psychoeducation sheet appropriate, acceptable, and feasible (implementation outcomes). Secondly, the providers' need for the psychoeducation tool, as well as their capability, motivation, opportunity, and need to use it in everyday work were assessed (potential implementation determinants). Lastly, we wanted to determine significant associations between the outcomes and the determinants. Method: The psychoeducation sheet's acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility were rated by 381 German mental health care providers. The sheet was presented to them in an online survey. Results: Levels of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, opportunity and capability were high. Motivation had the clearest association with each of the three-implementation outcomes. Limitation: Regular contact with persons with dementia (PwD) and their carers was not a requirement to be eligible for the study. Conclusion: The developed psychoeducation tool about dementia grief can be used to educate caregivers. Improving provider motivation should be taken into consideration when trying to implement newly developed interventions in health care.