Current Best Practice for People with Frontotemporal Dementia in Norway: A Focus Group Study with Expert Healthcare...

Frontotemporal symptoms are usually associated with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), but people with all forms of dementia may develop these symptoms as the dementia disease progresses. Knowledge about psychosocial interventions that meet the needs of people with FTD symptoms, and literature on the subject, is hard to find. The aim of the study was to describe current practice as it is experienced by healthcare experts in the clinical field in Norway.

Three focus groups were conducted. Healthcare personnel with clinical experience in care and treatment to people with FTD and other dementia diseases with frontotemporal symptoms were eligible for inclusion. Qualitative directed content analysis with open coding focusing on both manifest and latent content was applied.

Four categories were described: (1) Dilemmas of anosognosia, (2) establishment of a diagnosis, (3) establishment of post-diagnostic support at home, and (4) establishment of care in the nursing home.

People with FTD and other dementias with frontotemporal symptoms need rigid, easy-to-understand, predictable surroundings and healthcare personnel that are clear, friendly, and respectful in their communication. Post-diagnostic support provided in flexible systems ensuring smooth transitions between services and levels of care is required. To ensure quality of care, frontline healthcare staff should be able to recognize FTD symptoms. To achieve this, supervision and training are needed. More research about clinical care interventions and how to derive good nursing practice should be prioritized.