Abstract
Background: The use of Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is) has raised debate in the literature on the ethical issues of drug treatment in dementia patients. These issues concern the quality of life of dementia patients and the process of decision-making regarding the use of ChE-Is. We interviewed caregivers of patients with dementia, focussing on issues of quality of life and the process of decision-making regarding the use of anti-dementia drugs. Aim: The aim of this article is to explore whether the ethical concerns raised in the literature are actually in line with experiences in the daily practice of dementia care. Methods: Qualitative data that have been collected by semi-structured interviews with 12 caregivers of patients who (had) used ChE-Is. Results: The results seem to indicate that theoretical considerations should be modified in the light of the reported experiences of caregivers. For example, problematic consequences of an early diagnosis and the creation of unreasonable hope did not appear in the study. Also problems concerning the rising awareness of cognitive decline were not found. Conclusion: In the interest of an ongoing ethical debate on the development and use of anti-dementia drugs it is important to further specify theoretical issues and to conduct empirical research into the practice of decision making and to get more insight in the perspectives of the patients using anti-dementia medicines themselves.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 869-875 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry |
| Volume | 21 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sep 2006 |
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Do caregivers' experiences correspond with the concerns raised in the literature? Ethical issues relating to anti-dementia drugs. / Huizing, Anna R.; Berghmans, Ron L P; Widdershoven, Guy A M; Verhey, Frans R J.
In: International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, Vol. 21, No. 9, 01.09.2006, p. 869-875.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Do caregivers' experiences correspond with the concerns raised in the literature? Ethical issues relating to anti-dementia drugs
AU - Huizing, Anna R.
AU - Berghmans, Ron L P
AU - Widdershoven, Guy A M
AU - Verhey, Frans R J
PY - 2006/9/1
Y1 - 2006/9/1
N2 - Background: The use of Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is) has raised debate in the literature on the ethical issues of drug treatment in dementia patients. These issues concern the quality of life of dementia patients and the process of decision-making regarding the use of ChE-Is. We interviewed caregivers of patients with dementia, focussing on issues of quality of life and the process of decision-making regarding the use of anti-dementia drugs. Aim: The aim of this article is to explore whether the ethical concerns raised in the literature are actually in line with experiences in the daily practice of dementia care. Methods: Qualitative data that have been collected by semi-structured interviews with 12 caregivers of patients who (had) used ChE-Is. Results: The results seem to indicate that theoretical considerations should be modified in the light of the reported experiences of caregivers. For example, problematic consequences of an early diagnosis and the creation of unreasonable hope did not appear in the study. Also problems concerning the rising awareness of cognitive decline were not found. Conclusion: In the interest of an ongoing ethical debate on the development and use of anti-dementia drugs it is important to further specify theoretical issues and to conduct empirical research into the practice of decision making and to get more insight in the perspectives of the patients using anti-dementia medicines themselves.
AB - Background: The use of Cholinesterase inhibitors (ChE-Is) has raised debate in the literature on the ethical issues of drug treatment in dementia patients. These issues concern the quality of life of dementia patients and the process of decision-making regarding the use of ChE-Is. We interviewed caregivers of patients with dementia, focussing on issues of quality of life and the process of decision-making regarding the use of anti-dementia drugs. Aim: The aim of this article is to explore whether the ethical concerns raised in the literature are actually in line with experiences in the daily practice of dementia care. Methods: Qualitative data that have been collected by semi-structured interviews with 12 caregivers of patients who (had) used ChE-Is. Results: The results seem to indicate that theoretical considerations should be modified in the light of the reported experiences of caregivers. For example, problematic consequences of an early diagnosis and the creation of unreasonable hope did not appear in the study. Also problems concerning the rising awareness of cognitive decline were not found. Conclusion: In the interest of an ongoing ethical debate on the development and use of anti-dementia drugs it is important to further specify theoretical issues and to conduct empirical research into the practice of decision making and to get more insight in the perspectives of the patients using anti-dementia medicines themselves.
KW - Alzheimer's disease
KW - Cholinesterase inhibitors
KW - Ethics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749370455&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/gps.1576
DO - 10.1002/gps.1576
M3 - Article
VL - 21
SP - 869
EP - 875
JO - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
SN - 0885-6230
IS - 9
ER -