title: Multiple perspectives on quality of life for residents with dementia in long term care facilities: protocol for a comprehensive Australian study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dementia is a chronic illness without cure or effective treatment, which results in declining mental and physical function and assistance from others to manage activities of daily living. Many people with dementia live in long term care facilities, yet research into their quality of life (QoL) was rare until the last decade. Previous studies failed to incorporate important variables related to the facility and care provision or to look closely at the daily lives of residents. This paper presents a protocol for a comprehensive, multi-perspective assessment of QoL of residents with dementia living in long term care in Australia. A secondary aim is investigating the effectiveness of self-report instruments for measuring QoL.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study utilizes a descriptive, mixed methods design to examine how facility, care staff, and resident factors impact QoL. Over 500 residents with dementia from a stratified, random sample of 53 facilities are being recruited. A sub-sample of 12 residents is also taking part in qualitative interviews and observations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This national study will provide a broad understanding of factors underlying QoL for residents with dementia in long term care. The present study uses a similar methodology to the US-based Collaborative Studies of Long Term Care (CS-LTC) Dementia Care Study, applying it to the Australian setting.
authors.affiliation: Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.affiliation: Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1938-0296
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: Griffith University,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Moyle
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales and University of Technology Sydney,Sydney,New South Wales,Australia.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chenoweth
authors.affiliation: La Trobe University,Melbourne,Victoria,Australia.
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fetherstonhaugh
authors.affiliation: Curtin University,Perth,Western Australia,Australia.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.affiliation: University of Tasmania,Hobart,Tasmania,Australia.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.affiliation: Queensland University of Technology,Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fielding
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D057566:Self Report
keywords: dementia; long term care; quality of life (QoL); residential facilities