Research

We have a strong commitment to supporting research into dementia treatment and care. This is why we’ve ensured that research is a key element of the charity’s strategic aims and is a strand that runs through our approach to supporting families affected by dementia.

The Research and Publications team lead on increasing the research capacity and influence of Dementia UK and Admiral Nurses and externally with partner organisations. There are two main purposes to our research activity at Dementia UK: Research about Admiral Nursing and research about dementia care. Essential to both these purposes is developing and strengthening our affiliations and partnerships with academic institutions both nationally and internationally.

Strengthening the evidence base for Admiral Nursing and developing research mindedness in Admiral Nurses themselves.

Dementia UK supports Admiral Nurses to be research and outcomes active through the involvement of several teams: Research and Publications, Insights and Evaluation and Professional and Practice Development. A focus on research and practice outcomes enables good quality care to be provided, described, evaluated and shared.

Why be research active?

Being research active means that Admiral Nurses use the right evidence, in the right way, at the right time to plan, deliver and evaluate care. It is also concerned with the generation and development of new knowledge, evidence and research questions to make a positive difference to families affected by dementia. Admiral Nurses are encouraged to evaluate their practice and where possible, use research to address practice related questions.

Essential in evaluating evidence-based practice is the use of appropriate outcome measurements. An outcome measure captures change in health statuses as a consequence of health or social care interventions. Outcome measures enable Admiral Nurses to deliver and sustain good quality care.

Admiral Nurse RESEARCH activity:

• Readiness to implement latest research findings into their practice
• Education through continued practice and professional development and academic study
• Sharing their knowledge and disseminating the latest research relating to practice with other professionals
• Engaging in the research agenda and generating new research questions
• Adding to the current evidence base through their own research
• Recruitment and participation in appropriate studies
• Collation of data to inform research studies internally and externally
• Highlighting the need for increased research into the care and support of families affected by dementia

Research active Admiral Nurses and Admiral Nurse services connect locally, regional, nationally and internationally with research and academic organisations and Research Networks (such as, CRN’s), Universities, academic centres and other health and social care providers.

Research and Publications support to Admiral Nurses

The Research and Publications team have several approaches to develop and increase the research capacity of Admiral Nurses:

• Supporting individual Admiral Nurses and Admiral Nurse teams in their research projects through; developing research questions; design and methodology; data collection; analysis; dissemination and measurement of impact
• Support in sourcing and appraising literature
• Development of writing skills and support with writing for publication
• Linking Admiral Nurses who have shared research interests
• Partnering requests for Dementia UK involvement in research to Admiral Nurses/ Services
• Connecting external and internal stakeholders to increase the evidence base for Admiral Nursing

Collaborating and supporting the research of others in the field of dementia care, both nationally and internationally.

Supporting the research of others is central to the work of the Research and Publications team at Dementia UK. The Research and Publications team hold a portfolio of studies where they have varying levels of involvement; this work includes many of the universities in the UK but also internationally, such as, The Netherlands, Canada, Italy, Japan and Czech Republic. To further enhance our collaboration, members of the Research and Publications team hold several honorary appointments with universities, such as, honorary or visiting professors, research fellows, senior lecturers, etc. Our commitment to the wider research agenda of dementia care may include the following:

• Dissemination of research findings across the body of Admiral Nurses
• Pilot intervention’s in Admiral Nurse Services
• Coordinate the recruitment of Admiral Nurses (as research participants) to studies
• Where appropriate, promote the recruitment of participants (families affected by dementia) to studies (contact the R and P team)
• Review/comment of research and grant applications or proposals
• Members of the Research and Publications team participate in research in a variety of ways; members or expert advisory groups, study management committees, collaborators, co-applicants, work package leads, or similar.

If you would like to discuss any of the above, or seek our support on your research, please contact the Research and Publications Team of Dementia UK by email on researchpublications@dementiauk.org