Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups
Introduction: People with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority (MEM) groups often receive suboptimal care. Differences in perceptions, values and preferences, and linguistic barriers may complicate communication between persons with dementia, their families and healthcare professionals. Metapho...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-06-01
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| Series: | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523000501 |
| _version_ | 1797790816555499520 |
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| author | Anke J.M. Oerlemans Aletta G. Dorst Marjan L. Knippenberg Gert J. Olthuis |
| author_facet | Anke J.M. Oerlemans Aletta G. Dorst Marjan L. Knippenberg Gert J. Olthuis |
| author_sort | Anke J.M. Oerlemans |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: People with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority (MEM) groups often receive suboptimal care. Differences in perceptions, values and preferences, and linguistic barriers may complicate communication between persons with dementia, their families and healthcare professionals. Metaphor analysis can provide unique insight into the lifeworld of people with dementia and their informal caregivers. This study identified the metaphors with which informal caregivers of persons with dementia from diverse cultural-linguistic backgrounds understand and discuss dementia. Methods: We conducted 7 focus groups (n = 42) and 12 interviews (n = 13) with informal caregivers of persons with dementia living in the Netherlands from six different cultural backgrounds: Dutch, Chinese, Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, and Dutch-Antillean. Interviews, in the native tongue of participants, were analyzed for the presence of direct and indirect metaphor. Results: The results indicate a conspicuous lack of metaphor to reflect on the nature and experience of having dementia. Two typical conceptual metaphors in health communication (journey/war) are virtually absent in all MEM groups. Furthermore, results suggest a one-sided and negative outlook on dementia, with an emphasis on persons with dementia as ‘childlike’ or ‘crazy’. Conclusion: Our results suggest a lack of extensively available sophisticated (metaphorical) language to consider daily life with persons with dementia. There is a clear need to address the stigma and lack of medical knowledge surrounding dementia in these MEM groups and to carry out more cross-linguistic and cross-cultural research to explore which metaphors aid understanding and lead to the empowerment and restoration of self-worth of people with dementia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:09:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3fed2d8183e74a90b2483069d589906a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2667-3215 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T02:09:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | SSM: Qualitative Research in Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-3fed2d8183e74a90b2483069d589906a2023-07-01T04:36:08ZengElsevierSSM: Qualitative Research in Health2667-32152023-06-013100266Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groupsAnke J.M. Oerlemans0Aletta G. Dorst1Marjan L. Knippenberg2Gert J. Olthuis3IQ Healthcare, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101 (160 IQ), 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Radboud university medical center, PO Box 9101 (160 IQ), 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.Leiden University Centre for Linguistics, Leiden University, Arsenaalstraat 1, 2311 CT, Leiden, the NetherlandsIQ Healthcare, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101 (160 IQ), 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsIQ Healthcare, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101 (160 IQ), 6500 HB, Nijmegen, the NetherlandsIntroduction: People with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority (MEM) groups often receive suboptimal care. Differences in perceptions, values and preferences, and linguistic barriers may complicate communication between persons with dementia, their families and healthcare professionals. Metaphor analysis can provide unique insight into the lifeworld of people with dementia and their informal caregivers. This study identified the metaphors with which informal caregivers of persons with dementia from diverse cultural-linguistic backgrounds understand and discuss dementia. Methods: We conducted 7 focus groups (n = 42) and 12 interviews (n = 13) with informal caregivers of persons with dementia living in the Netherlands from six different cultural backgrounds: Dutch, Chinese, Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese, and Dutch-Antillean. Interviews, in the native tongue of participants, were analyzed for the presence of direct and indirect metaphor. Results: The results indicate a conspicuous lack of metaphor to reflect on the nature and experience of having dementia. Two typical conceptual metaphors in health communication (journey/war) are virtually absent in all MEM groups. Furthermore, results suggest a one-sided and negative outlook on dementia, with an emphasis on persons with dementia as ‘childlike’ or ‘crazy’. Conclusion: Our results suggest a lack of extensively available sophisticated (metaphorical) language to consider daily life with persons with dementia. There is a clear need to address the stigma and lack of medical knowledge surrounding dementia in these MEM groups and to carry out more cross-linguistic and cross-cultural research to explore which metaphors aid understanding and lead to the empowerment and restoration of self-worth of people with dementia.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523000501DementiaFamily caregiversMetaphorsMinority groupsQualitative research |
| spellingShingle | Anke J.M. Oerlemans Aletta G. Dorst Marjan L. Knippenberg Gert J. Olthuis Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups SSM: Qualitative Research in Health Dementia Family caregivers Metaphors Minority groups Qualitative research |
| title | Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups |
| title_full | Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups |
| title_fullStr | Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups |
| title_short | Dementia in metaphors: A qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups |
| title_sort | dementia in metaphors a qualitative study among informal caregivers of people with dementia from migrant and ethnic minority groups |
| topic | Dementia Family caregivers Metaphors Minority groups Qualitative research |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667321523000501 |
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