title: START (STrAtegies for RelaTives) coping strategy for family carers of adults with dementia: qualitative study of participants' views about the intervention.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the experience of individual family carers of people with dementia who received a manual-based coping strategy programme (STrAtegies for RelaTives, START), demonstrated in a randomised-controlled trial to reduce affective symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study using self-completed questionnaires exploring the experience of the START intervention. Two researchers transcribed, coded and analysed completed questionnaires thematically.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three mental health and one neurology dementia clinic in South East England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were primary family carers of a patient diagnosed with dementia who provided support at least weekly to their relative. We invited those in the treatment group remaining in the START study at 2 years postrandomisation (n=132) to participate. 75 people, comprising a maximum variation sample, responded.
  
  
  METHODS
  (1) Important aspects of the therapy. (2) Continued use of the intervention after the end of the therapy. (3) Unhelpful aspects of the therapy and suggestions for improvement. (4) Appropriate time for intervention delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carers identified several different components as important: relaxation techniques, education about dementia, strategies to help manage the behaviour of the person with dementia, contact with the therapist and changing unhelpful thoughts. Two-thirds of the participants reported that they continue to use the intervention's techniques at 2-year follow up. Few participants suggested changes to the intervention content, but some wanted more sessions and others wanted the involvement of more family members. Most were happy with receiving the intervention shortly after diagnosis, although some relatives of people with moderate dementia thought it should have been delivered at an earlier stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants' varied responses about which aspects of START were helpful suggest that a multicomponent intervention is suited to the differing circumstances of dementia carers, providing a range of potentially helpful strategies. The continued use of the strategies 2 years after receiving the intervention could be a mechanism for the intervention remaining effective.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sommerlad
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manela
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Penny
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rapaport
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gill
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Livingston
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: QUALITATIVE RESEARCH