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  • Anja Broda
    Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg
  • Anja Bieber
    Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg
  • Gabriele Meyer
    Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg
  • Louise Hopper
    Dublin City University
  • Rachael Joyce
    Dublin City University
  • Kate Irving
    Dublin City University
  • Orazio Zanetti
    IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio “Fatebenefratelli”
  • Elisa Portolani
    IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio “Fatebenefratelli”
  • Liselot Kerpershoek
    Maastricht University
  • Frans Verhey
    Maastricht University
  • Marjolein de Vught
    Maastricht University
  • Claire Wolfs
    Maastricht University
  • Siren Eriksen
    Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg
  • Janne Røsvik
    Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg
  • Maria J. Marques
    Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • Manuel Gonçalves-Pereira
    Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • Britt-Marie Sjölund
    Stockholm University
  • Robert Woods
  • Hannah Jelley
  • Martin Orrell
    University of Nottingham
  • Astrid Stephan
    Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg
Background
As part of the ActifCare (ACcess to Timely Formal Care) project, we conducted expert interviews in eight European countries with policy and political decision makers, or representatives of relevant institutions, to determine their perspectives on access to formal care for people with dementia and their carers.
Methods
Each ActifCare country (Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, United Kingdom) conducted semi-structured interviews with 4–7 experts (total N = 38). The interview guide addressed the topics “Complexity and Continuity of Care”, “Formal Services”, and “Public Awareness”. Country-specific analysis of interview transcripts used an inductive qualitative content analysis. Cross-national synthesis focused on similarities in themes across the ActifCare countries.
Results
The analysis revealed ten common themes and two additional sub-themes across countries. Among others, the experts highlighted the need for a coordinating role and the necessity of information to address issues of complexity and continuity of care, demanded person-centred, tailored, and multidisciplinary formal services, and referred to education, mass media and campaigns as means to raise public awareness.
Conclusions
Policy and political decision makers appear well acquainted with current discussions among both researchers and practitioners of possible approaches to improve access to dementia care. Experts described pragmatic, realistic strategies to influence dementia care. Suggested innovations concerned how to achieve improved dementia care, rather than transforming the nature of the services provided. Knowledge gained in these expert interviews may be useful to national decision makers when they consider reshaping the organisation of dementia care, and may thus help to develop best-practice strategies and recommendations.

Keywords

  • Dementia, Access to formal dementia care, Expert interviews
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1
Number of pages14
JournalBMC Health Services Research
Volume17
Issue number518
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Aug 2017

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