Enhancing Person-Centred Dementia Care Through Self-Experience: European Perspectives From a Qualitative Study

Understanding the perspectives of people with dementia is crucial for providing person-centred care. Self-experience practices in caregiver training could foster empathy by simulating conditions individuals may encounter. This European study examines the potential contribution of self-experience practices to improving understanding and empathy towards people with dementia. A qualitative approach within the interpretative paradigm was employed to investigate perspectives on self-experience practices in dementia care through focus groups and individual interviews. Participants were people with dementia, informal caregivers, and professionals with experience in simulation-based dementia training and/or communication tools. Transcripts from Germany, Ireland, Italy, and the Netherlands underwent qualitative content analysis and thematic synthesis. Six analytical themes emerged across all target groups and countries, indicating the possibility of enhancing dementia care through self-experience. Themes cover the rationale and impact of these practices, required content and strategies, training procedures, target groups, implementation issues, and barriers and facilitators. Tailoring the training and supportive environment are crucial, but ethical and implementation issues must also be considered to ensure effectiveness and integrity. Integration of self-experience practices suggests benefits in skill acquisition, care strategies, and theoretical understanding. Further research is needed to reach an international consensus for self-experience dementia training practices.