Developing Behavioral Coding to Understand Family Communication Breakdown in Dementia Care. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Coleman, Carissa K.; Aly, Iman M.; Dunham, Ashlyn; Inderhees, Kacie; Richardson, Michaela; Wilson, Paige; Berkley, Amy; Savundranayagam, Marie; Williams, Kristine
• Other Names: Bakas Tamilyn guest-editor.; Miller Elaine L. guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Western journal of nursing research. Volume 44:Number 3(2022)
• Page Start: 250
• Page End: 259
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: caregiver -- dementia -- communication -- home care; Nursing -- Research -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Research -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- West (U.S.) -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing Research -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- Recherche -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers -- États-Unis (Ouest) -- Périodiques; Soins infirmiers; Recherche; États-Unis (Ouest); Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 610.730702
• DOI: 10.1177/01939459211062957
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0193-9459

Abstract

Communication breakdown is a challenge for family caregivers of persons living with dementia. We adapted established theory and scales for computer-assisted behavioral coding to characterize caregiver communication for a secondary analysis. We developed verbal, nonverbal, and breakdown coding schemes and established reliability (κ > .85). Within the 221 family caregiving videos analyzed, 55% of exchanges were interactive, 30% were silence, 4% consisted of talking to self or others, and 8% included a breakdown. An average of 2.4 ( SD = 1.9) breakdowns occurred per observation and were successfully resolved 85% of the time, with 31% being resolved most successfully following only one flag and repair strategy. Caregivers were the primary speakers (67%); their communication preceded most breakdown (65%), and they primarily initiated the repairs after a breakdown (70%). Common repair strategies included clarifications (31%), asking questions (24%), and repeating information (24%). Associations between communication strategies and repair success will provide evidence for caregiver training.