title: Knowledge management in dementia care networks: a qualitative analysis of successful information and support strategies for people with dementia living at home and their family caregivers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stakeholders involved in community dementia support services often work on their own and without coordination with other services. These circumstances can result in a lack of information and support for people with dementia and their family caregivers at home. To increase the coordination between existing support services, so-called 'Dementia Care Networks' (DCNs) have been established. Most of the tasks that are performed in DCNs are based on communication strategies. Therefore, knowledge management (KM) is a key process in these networks. However, few studies have focused on this topic. This study attempted to evaluate KM strategies in DCNs across Germany as part of the DemNet-D study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative interview study design was used.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative data were collected during single and group interviews with key persons associated with thirteen DCNs. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed, and a structured content analysis was conducted. The framework for the analysis was derived from a KM model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information dissemination strategies for people with dementia and their informal caregivers based on actively established contacts appear to be more successful than passive strategies. General practitioners often play a key role as external gatekeepers in initiating contact between a network and a person affected by dementia. In this context, case managers can help integrate external stakeholders, such as general practitioners or pharmacists, into DCNs using different KM strategies. The systematic development of common objectives under an agency-neutral leadership seems to be an important aspect of successful KM within DCNs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings reported here can help DCNs optimize their KM strategies for generating tailored information and support services for people with dementia living at home and their family caregivers. In particular, the identified potential knowledge distribution barriers and facilitators will be of practical use to DCN stakeholders.
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Witten, Stockumer Straße 12, 58453 Witten, Germany. Electronic address: steffen.heinrich@dzne.de.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Witten, Stockumer Straße 12, 58453 Witten, Germany. Electronic address: franziska.laporte-uribe@dzne.de.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laporte Uribe
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Witten, Stockumer Straße 12, 58453 Witten, Germany. Electronic address: martina.roes@dzne.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roes
authors.affiliation: Institute of Community Medicine, University of Greifswald, Germany. Electronic address: wolfgang.hoffmann@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany. Electronic address: rene.thyrian@dzne.de.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Thyrian
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Health Science, University of Bremen, Germany. Electronic address: wolf-ostermann@uni-bremen.de.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolf-Ostermann
authors.affiliation: German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Witten, Stockumer Straße 12, 58453 Witten, Germany. Electronic address: bernhard.holle@dzne.de.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holle
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D058436:Knowledge Management; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Dementia care networks; Home care; Information; Knowledge management; Support services