title: A literature-based intervention for older people living with dementia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While several studies have explored the impact of literature and reading on mental health, there has been relatively little work done on how a literature-based intervention might impact on the behaviours of those living with dementia. The present report addresses the effect that a specific literature-based intervention - Get into Reading, designed and practised by national charity The Reader Organisation - might have on the health and well-being of people living with dementia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This present study arises out of a service evaluation that specifically assessed to what extent the shared-reading intervention impacted upon behaviours symptomatic of dementia. Its aims were: (1) to understand the influence that reading has on older adults with dementia in different health-care environments; (2) to identify staff perceptions of the influence that engagement in a reading group has on older adults living with dementia; and (3) to investigate any changes in dementia symptoms of older adults participating in a reading group.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study employed a mixed-method design conducted within three health-care environments: three care homes, two hospital wards and one day centre. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q) assessed staff views of any changes in dementia symptom severity for participants in reading groups conducted in the care homes. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were then conducted with staff who attended the reading groups and/or had extensive knowledge of service users involved in all of the health-care settings. Responses to questions were recorded verbatim and then subject to thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  61 service users and 20 staff members took part in the overall project. The NPI-Q results indicate that symptom scores were lower during the reading group period than at baseline. These findings were supported by the qualitative interviews, which suggested that three themes were perceived to be important to effective engagement with the reading groups: (1) the components of the reading group intervention; (2) enjoyment, authenticity, meaningfulness and renewed sense of personal identity; and (3) enhancement of listening, memory and attention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In light of quantifiable data of limited but indicative status, together with strongly corroborative qualitative evidence, engagement in reading-group activity appeared to produce a significant reduction in dementia symptom severity. Staff interviews indicated the contribution of reading groups to well-being.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research into Reading, Information and Linguistic Systems, Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, UK. jbilling@liv.ac.uk
authors.forename: Josie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Billington
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carroll
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Healey
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kinderman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003631:Day Care, Medical / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006126:Group Processes; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008091:Literature; D009735:Nursing Homes; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life; D011932:Reading; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
keywords: dementia; literature-based health intervention; reading; reading aloud; reading and health; reading therapy; shared reading