Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the experiences of the carers of people living with dementia while receiving various clinical dementia services in Macao. METHODS: A qualitative approach using Van Manen's phenomenological method was adopted to explore the experiences of the carers of people living with dementia who have been receiving various clinical dementia services in Macao. Data was obtained by face-to-face interviews with 30 purposively selected participants, and then thematic analysis was used. RESULTS: Two categories related to the experiences of the carers have emerged: (1) The empathetic care as family members, consisting of themes of the caring service of doctors and nurses as warm and nuanced as family members, and the good rapport between nurses and people living with dementia; and (2) Multidisciplinary medical service team, covering themes of supporting the carers gain more knowledge, professional services of medical disciplines, and less waiting time for medical consultation. The categories capture that the carers are satisfied with the friendly attitudes and professional services of medical multidisciplines while they have been receiving various clinical dementia services in Macao. CONCLUSION: The phenomenological study can offer innovatively, a deeper understanding of the experiences of the carers of people living with dementia who have been receiving various clinical dementia services in Macao and capture the carers' satisfactions with the friendly attitudes and professional services of medical multidisciplines, and then will be utilized in designing effective initiatives to improve the practice for clinical dementia services in Macao.