The use of the truth and deception in dementia care amongst general hospital staff

Turner, Alex and Eccles, Fiona Juliet Rosalind and Keady, John and Simpson, Jane and Elvish, Ruth (2017) The use of the truth and deception in dementia care amongst general hospital staff. Aging and Mental Health, 21 (8). pp. 862-869. ISSN 1360-7863

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Abstract

Objectives: Deceptive practice has been shown to be endemic in long-term care settings. However, little is known about the use of deception in dementia care within general hospitals and staff attitudes towards this practice. This study aimed to develop understanding of the experiences of general hospital staff and explore their decision-making processes when choosing whether to tell the truth or deceive a patient with dementia. Method: This qualitative study drew upon a constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2006) to analyse data gathered from semi-structured interviews with a range of hospital staff. A model, grounded in participant experiences, was developed to describe their decision-making processes. Findings: Participants identified particular triggers that set in motion the need for a response. Various mediating factors influenced how staff chose to respond to these triggers. Overall, hospital staff were reluctant to either tell the truth or to lie to patients. Instead, ‘distracting’ or ‘passing the buck’ to another member of staff were preferred strategies. The issue of how truth and deception are defined was identified. Conclusion: The study adds to the growing research regarding the use of lies in dementia care by considering the decision-making processes for staff in general hospitals. Various factors influence how staff choose to respond to patients with dementia and whether deception is used. Similarities and differences with long-term dementia care settings are discussed. Clinical and research implications include: opening up the topic for further debate, implementing staff training about communication, and evaluating the impact of these processes.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Aging and Mental Health
Additional Information:
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Aging and Mental Health on 04/05/2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/13607863.2016.1179261
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2900/2909
Subjects:
?? dementialdeceptiontruth-tellinggeneral hospital staffgerontologygeriatrics and gerontologypsychiatry and mental healthphychiatric mental health ??
ID Code:
79385
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
10 May 2016 15:40
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jan 2024 00:12