Scholarship of Practice in the Care of People with Dementia: Creating the Future Through Collaborative Efforts

Abstract

A scholarship of practice approach sets the stage for collaborative partnerships across academic and clinical practice settings that result in positive gains for all stakeholders. These gains include an enhanced ability to generate and apply relevant evidence in practice, disseminate knowledge and innovation, and ensure best practice is relevant to and effective for, people receiving services and their caregivers. This paper discusses national and international examples of collaborative, research-based practice initiatives that have implemented a scholarship of practice approach. The exemplars described here are framed within the Model of Human Occupation, which addresses the importance of volition, habits, roles, environment, and performance capacities in facilitating engagement in occupation for people with dementia. Research that focuses on how therapists adopt and use evidence in practice, as well as the opportunities and challenges for supporting therapists and their use of theory and evidence are discussed.

Medication compliance in Singaporean patients with Alzheimer’s disease

“…We opine that a multifaceted approach will be most effective at improving compliance in patients with multiple risk factors influencing their behaviour toward medication use. (21) This can be conducted in the form of a collaborative care model involving the following stakeholders: (38) (a) physicians who optimise medications and other behavioural therapies to ensure optimal treatment efficacy for the patient; (b) clinical psychologists who educate the patients on the importance of AD treatment and its implications; (c) pharmacists who manage the drug regimen, educate patients on side-effect management, and monitor medication use through building rapport with the patient and caregivers; and (d) social workers who manage the financial aspects of treatment and medications for AD patients with financial difficulties.…”