[Day hospitals--predictors for utilisation and quality expectations from the perspective of family caregivers of dementia patients].
OBJECTIVE
To relieve the burden on family caregivers of dementia patients, the utilisation of day hospitals should be increased. Therefore, the predictive variables for utilisation as well as family caregivers' views regarding the quality of day hospitals must be investigated.


METHODS
The cross-sectional study was carried out as an anonymous, written survey of family caregivers of dementia patients in four regions of Germany. Quantitative and qualitative data from 404 family caregivers was analysed using binary logistic regression analysis and qualitative content analysis, respectively. In addition, 11 day hospital managers were interviewed concerning their quality concepts.


RESULTS
The only significant predictor for the utilisation of day hospitals is the estimate of how helpful this support is for the family caregiver's situation. Those who have already had experiences with a day hospital expressed a wish for medical and psychiatric care by "well-trained" staff and a reasonable form of occupation for the dementia patient.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to increase utilisation, family caregivers must be convinced of the advantages of using day hospitals. A day hospital that combines both activating occupational therapy and medical care by well-trained staff is what family caregivers wish most for their care-receivers.
Donath
Carolin
C
Psychiatrische und Psycho-therapeutische Klinik,Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Schwabachanlage 6, Erlangen. carolin.donath@uk-erlangen.de
Bleich
Stefan
S
Grässel
Elmar
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data