title: The impact of reminiscence on the quality of life of residents with dementia in long-stay care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing recognition of the potential use of reminiscence in maintaining or improving the quality of life of people with dementia. Despite being used widely in dementia care, evidence on the effectiveness of reminiscence remains uncertain.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured education-based reminiscence programme-the Dementia Education Programme Incorporating Reminiscence for Staff-for people with dementia residing in long-stay care settings in Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dementia Education Programme Incorporating Reminiscence for Staff is a two-group, single-blind, cluster randomised trial conducted in long-stay residential care settings in Ireland. The primary outcome was the self-rated quality of life of residents as measured by the Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using an intention-to-treat analysis, we found that the estimated effect of the intervention on the quality of life of residents was a non-significant 3.54 (p = 0.1; 95% confidence interval -0.83, 7.90), expressed as the difference in mean improvement between the intervention and control groups. However, the per-protocol analysis yielded a significant effect for the intervention on the quality of life of residents of 5.22 (p = 0.04; 95% confidence interval 0.11, 10.34).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reminiscence may, in certain circumstances, be an effective care option for people with dementia in long-stay settings with potential to impact positively on the quality of life of residents.
authors.affiliation: School of Business and Economics, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Eamon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: Declan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Devane
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cooney
authors.forename: Dympna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Fionnuala
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Edel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Sheelah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: cluster randomised controlled; dementia; long-stay care; psychosocial interventions; quality of life; reminiscence; trial