title: Perceived quality in a dementia unit: patients' caregivers as information providers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dementia units (DU) provide comprehensive and specialised care to patients with dementia. However, assessment in these units normally focuses on patient management. The aim of this study was to determine satisfaction of the caregivers of patients managed in a DU and how they rated DU care.
  
  
  METHODS
  We created a self-administered questionnaire which was completed by 236 caregivers visiting the DU in 2015. The questionnaire included 6 dimensions (accessibility, organisation, professionalism, relationship with staff, information, and facilities); data were analysed using problem rates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 53.4% caregivers completed the questionnaire; most were women, patients' spouses, or first-degree relatives. The overall problem rates was 15.0% (95% CI, 13.9-16.1), with sizeable differences between dimensions: from 0.1% (95% CI, 0.0-0.4) for 'relationship with staff' and 'professionalism' to 49.3% (95% CI, 45.4-53.2) for 'information'. Waiting times over 30minutes were perceived as excessive. Information problems were not directly related to patient management. Satisfaction was scored 8.29/10 (median 8; SD 1.45); 77.3% (95% CI, 69.8-74.8) of respondents were highly satisfied. Ninety-nine percent of the caregivers stated that they would recommend the DU.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This questionnaire provides interesting data on care quality as perceived by patients' caregivers. Our results have allowed us to identify problems and implement corrective actions. Our questionnaire has proved to be a useful tool for evaluating and improving care quality in DUs.
authors: Unidad de Calidad Asistencial, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España. Electronic address: Julioj.lopez-picazo@carm.es.
authors: J J
authors: JJ
authors: López-Picazo
authors: Unidad de Calidad Asistencial, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: de Dios Cánovas-García
authors: Unidad de Demencias, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Antúnez
authors: Unidad de Demencias, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Marín
authors: Unidad de Demencias, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Antequera
authors: Unidad de Demencias, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Vivancos
authors: Unidad de Demencias, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Martínez
authors: Unidad de Demencias, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Legaz
authors: Unidad de Demencias, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Navarro
authors: Equipo de Atención Primaria Murcia San Andrés, Área 1 Murcia-Oeste, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, España.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Leal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003704:Dementia / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Calidad percibida; Caregiver; Cuestionarios; Cuidador; Demencia; Dementia; Health organisations; Organizaciones en salud; Patient satisfaction; Perceived quality; Questionnaires; Satisfacción del paciente