Abstract

Objectives

To investigate the presence of awareness of changes in relationships domain, and additional subdomains (cognitive, emotional and functional status) in a group of participants with dementia.

Method

Using a qualitative design, 9 participants with mild and moderate dementia attended in a day care center were interviewed. Analyses were implemented throughout the modified version of the Grounded Theory Method.

Results

Some participants well-recognized changes in their relationships, albeit a tendency to immediately deny those changes was observed among them. The participants’ reports showed that the kind of familiar or social relationship might facilitate the expression of awareness. Less discomfort in social interactions with familiars and friends compared to embarrassment with unfamiliar relationships were described. All participants could partially recognize their cognitive deficits, although attempts to normalize their condition and minimize difficulties were identified. Only two participants partially recognized changes in all investigated domains. The other participants partially described changes in two domains beyond the cognitive domain, such as relationships and emotional status or emotional and functional status. However, answers concerning emotional status reflected that some coping styles were not related to a general condition.

Conclusion

The relationship domain may provide a valuable perspective of awareness of disease. People with dementia may feel less embarrassed to recognize deficits in the presence of familiars and friends.

中文翻译：

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“我不太喜欢与人相处，需要很长时间才能互动”：痴呆症患者关系意识的定性分析

摘要

目标

调查一组痴呆症参与者对关系领域和其他子领域（认知、情绪和功能状态）变化的认识。

方法

采用定性设计，对日托中心的 9 名患有轻度和中度痴呆症的参与者进行了采访。分析是在扎根理论方法的修改版本中实施的。

结果

一些参与者清楚地认识到他们的关系发生了变化，尽管他们倾向于立即否认这些变化。参与者的报告表明，那种熟悉的或社会的关系可能有助于意识的表达。与与陌生关系的尴尬相比，与熟人和朋友的社交互动中的不适较少。所有参与者都可以部分认识到他们的认知缺陷，尽管已尝试使他们的状况正常化并尽量减少困难。只有两名参与者部分认识到所有调查领域的变化。其他参与者部分描述了认知领域之外的两个领域的变化，例如关系和情绪状态或情绪和功能状态。然而，

结论

关系领域可以提供对疾病的认识的有价值的视角。痴呆症患者在熟人和朋友面前承认自己的缺陷时可能不会感到尴尬。