Dementia-Mindsets of caregivers in residential care for older persons

A replication study on test quality

Background

Caregivers can have very different perspectives on the topic of dementia and on people with dementia, for example with regard to symptoms and courses. These perspectives shape the feelings, behaviors, and judgments of caregivers in different situations. It is known from several studies that thinking has significant effects on human actions and feelings. One way to examine such perspectives is through the concept of a dementia mindset. A dementia mindset bundles together a person's views and beliefs about dementia. The mindset of caregivers regarding dementia might also influence job satisfaction and work-related well-being.

In principle, according to Dweck and Legget‘s (1988) mindset theory, people are assumed to differ in their own theories (mindset) about the nature of human characteristics. A distinction is made between a fixed (traits are fixed) and a malleable (traits can be changed) mindset. It is assumed that malleable mindsets have a rather positive effect on health, well-being, but also, for example, on memory performance. There is evidence that appropriately designed interventions can influence or change mindsets.

A scale with a total of 12 items was developed by a team of researchers (Kunz et al 2020) that distinguishes a malleable dementia mindset and a fixed dementia mindset. The results of the testing showed some good properties. In addition, the dementia mindsets predict aspects of nurses‘ job-related well-being.

The replication study aims to confirm and further extend the results of the study by Kunz et al. (2020). In addition, it aims to test whether a malleable mindset is associated with higher nurse education levels, higher nurse dementia-specific professional experience/competence, and higher nurse dementia knowledge.

Project goal

The following questions underlie the project:

• Does the present 12 item scale show internal consistency (reliability)?
• Does the present 12-item scale show predictive validity with the external criterion ”work-related well-being”?

In extension of the replication, the following additional questions are addressed:

• What is the prevalence of the two different Dementia Mindsets among professional caregivers?
• Is a malleable Dementia Mindset positively associated with a higher level of education among professional nurses?
• Is a malleable Dementia Mindset positively associated with higher dementia-specific professional experience/competence among professional nurses?
• Is a malleable dementia mindset positively associated with higher dementia knowledge among professional nurses?

Methods

Data collection will take place once (cross-sectionally) in the form of a web-based online survey. For this purpose, an existing survey software on the servers of the DZNE will be used. The time required for completion is approx. 15-20 min. It is a structured individual survey with standardized questionnaires. Recruitment will be primarily through social media channels. The sample is a convenience sample consisting of adult (at least 18 years old), professional caregivers in residential care for older persons, regardless of their level of education and hierarchy, who have direct contact with people with dementia in their work.

Expected results

On the one hand, we expect to revalidate the Dementia Mindset Scale. Furthermore, we aim to obtain evidence on the prevalence of the respective Dementia Mindset among professional caregivers in residential care for older persons and to describe the association with the above-mentioned factors.