Perceção da efetividade da comunicação com a pessoa com demência na perspetiva do cuidador informal

Abstract

Introduction: Communicating with a person with dementia is a challenge for informal caregivers. Effective communication enhances the success of the care provided to the person with dementia. Objective: To understand the perception of informal caregivers of people with dementia regarding the effectiveness of their communication. Material and Methods: Qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory cross-sectional study. The data collection instrument was a semi-structured interview conducted via phone or teleconference. An intentional sample of 8 informal caregivers was used. Data collection took place from January to February 2023. The interviews were recorded and transcribed, and the collected data were subjected to content analysis. The ethical principles inherent to research involving human beings were followed. Results: The respondents were mostly women, aged between 50-70 years. Most consider communication with the person with dementia to be "difficult," "empty," and "unidirectional." The main challenges are "establishing a dialogue" and "lack of expression from the person with dementia." The most used strategies to facilitate communication are "remaining calm," "being attentive to gestures and facial expressions," and "being persistent." Most caregivers perceive the communication they establish with the person with dementia as "effective." Conclusions: Recognizing the challenges faced by informal caregivers in communicating with people with dementia is crucial for developing specific interventions.