Emily Thiessen - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Emily Thiessen

An understanding of the ways that rural community dwelling individuals with dementia (IWDs) are, ... more An understanding of the ways that rural community dwelling individuals with dementia (IWDs) are, and prefer to be, involved in their decision-making could help caregivers maximize IWDs' contribution to their decisions and could thus improve their care. This qualitative secondary analysis used an interpretive descriptive approach to inductively analyze 30 semi-structured interviews, which included 5 IWDs and their 6 informal caregivers (ICGs). Interviews were conducted over a year at the baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Five ways of decision-making were identified: (a) independent, (b) collaborative, (c) guided, (d) delegated, and (e) directed. Contrary to IWDs' preference for independent decision-making, they most often made guided decisions. Guided decision-making was used when IWDs did not recognize their need to make the specified decision, and when the IWD or their ICG perceived that the IWD needed guidance in their decision. Involvement of IWDs in their decision-making was maximized when their decisions were guided. iii Preface This thesis was a secondary analysis of data collected by Dr. Dorothy Forbes, for the study "Developing Dementia Care Decisions through Knowledge Exchange in Rural Settings". Chapter 2 of this thesis has been prepared for publication submission to the Canadian Journal on Aging. I, Emily Thiessen, was responsible for this thesis study's research design, literature review, methodology, data analysis, and manuscript composition.

Rural and remote health, 2012

Accessing, assessing, exchanging, and applying dementia care information can be challenging in ru... more Accessing, assessing, exchanging, and applying dementia care information can be challenging in rural communities for healthcare practitioners (HCPs), persons with dementia (PWD), and their care partners. The overall purpose of this research was to enable HCPs, care partners, and PWD to use dementia care information more effectively by examining their information needs, how these change over time, and how they access, assess, and apply the knowledge. A qualitative interpretive descriptive approach was used. A convenience sample was initially recruited through study collaborators in Southwestern Ontario, followed by purposive sampling. Nine rural dementia care networks consisting of PWD (n = 5), care partners (n = 14), and HCPs (n = 14) were recruited and 80 interviews were conducted at three time points. Transcripts were coded using Lubrosky's thematic analysis. Six stages of the dementia care journey were identified: (1) recognizing the symptoms; (2) receiving a diagnosis; (3) l...

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, 2013

ABSTRACT This article discusses the First Nations sample of a larger study on dementia care decis... more ABSTRACT This article discusses the First Nations sample of a larger study on dementia care decisions and knowledge sharing. The purpose is to enhance understanding of the process of knowledge sharing among health care practitioners (HCPs), care partners, and persons with dementia (PWDs) within a rural First Nations community. A constructivist grounded theory methodology was used. Nineteen interviews were conducted at three points in time with two dementia care networks that included two PWDs, three care partners, and two HCPs. A sharing dementia care knowledge model was conceived, with the PWDs and their care partners at the centre. Knowledge sharing in the model was represented by three broad themes: (1) developing trusting relationships, (2) accessing and adapting the information, and (3) applying the information. Culturally sensitive approaches were essential to developing trusting relationships. Once developed, knowledge sharing through accessing, adapting, and applying the information was possible.

Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2012

Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2013

Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 2015

An understanding of the ways that rural community dwelling individuals with dementia (IWDs) are, ... more An understanding of the ways that rural community dwelling individuals with dementia (IWDs) are, and prefer to be, involved in their decision-making could help caregivers maximize IWDs' contribution to their decisions and could thus improve their care. This qualitative secondary analysis used an interpretive descriptive approach to inductively analyze 30 semi-structured interviews, which included 5 IWDs and their 6 informal caregivers (ICGs). Interviews were conducted over a year at the baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Five ways of decision-making were identified: (a) independent, (b) collaborative, (c) guided, (d) delegated, and (e) directed. Contrary to IWDs' preference for independent decision-making, they most often made guided decisions. Guided decision-making was used when IWDs did not recognize their need to make the specified decision, and when the IWD or their ICG perceived that the IWD needed guidance in their decision. Involvement of IWDs in their decision-making was maximized when their decisions were guided. iii Preface This thesis was a secondary analysis of data collected by Dr. Dorothy Forbes, for the study "Developing Dementia Care Decisions through Knowledge Exchange in Rural Settings". Chapter 2 of this thesis has been prepared for publication submission to the Canadian Journal on Aging. I, Emily Thiessen, was responsible for this thesis study's research design, literature review, methodology, data analysis, and manuscript composition.

Rural and remote health, 2012

Accessing, assessing, exchanging, and applying dementia care information can be challenging in ru... more Accessing, assessing, exchanging, and applying dementia care information can be challenging in rural communities for healthcare practitioners (HCPs), persons with dementia (PWD), and their care partners. The overall purpose of this research was to enable HCPs, care partners, and PWD to use dementia care information more effectively by examining their information needs, how these change over time, and how they access, assess, and apply the knowledge. A qualitative interpretive descriptive approach was used. A convenience sample was initially recruited through study collaborators in Southwestern Ontario, followed by purposive sampling. Nine rural dementia care networks consisting of PWD (n = 5), care partners (n = 14), and HCPs (n = 14) were recruited and 80 interviews were conducted at three time points. Transcripts were coded using Lubrosky's thematic analysis. Six stages of the dementia care journey were identified: (1) recognizing the symptoms; (2) receiving a diagnosis; (3) l...

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement, 2013

ABSTRACT This article discusses the First Nations sample of a larger study on dementia care decis... more ABSTRACT This article discusses the First Nations sample of a larger study on dementia care decisions and knowledge sharing. The purpose is to enhance understanding of the process of knowledge sharing among health care practitioners (HCPs), care partners, and persons with dementia (PWDs) within a rural First Nations community. A constructivist grounded theory methodology was used. Nineteen interviews were conducted at three points in time with two dementia care networks that included two PWDs, three care partners, and two HCPs. A sharing dementia care knowledge model was conceived, with the PWDs and their care partners at the centre. Knowledge sharing in the model was represented by three broad themes: (1) developing trusting relationships, (2) accessing and adapting the information, and (3) applying the information. Culturally sensitive approaches were essential to developing trusting relationships. Once developed, knowledge sharing through accessing, adapting, and applying the information was possible.

Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2012

Alzheimer's & Dementia, 2013

Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, 2015