In order to investigate the relationship between the sleep of older people WIth dementia and their caregivers and the Impact of respite care on the sleep of these groups: 68 dyads who were approached to participate m this actigraphic sleep study. Agreement to partiCIpate in the study was given by 40 caregtvers QuestionnaIre and sleep dIary data were retrieved from all 40 caregivers Owing to non-compliance and technology faIlures: 36 careglvers and 34 care recipIents provided data at baseline, 34 careglvers and 32 care recIpients successfully completed the respite period of the study and 31 care givers and 30 care recIpients finished the entire study protocol. Analyses revealed that caregivers experienced clinically dIsturbed sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness. Health-related quality ofhfe scores revealed that caregivers experienced reduced mental health; social functiomng; and energy/vitahty scores compared to the general population. The princIpal effects of respIte care servIces indIcated that caregivers experienced significantly increased total sleep time (p = 0.002) and signIficantly reduced nocturnal activity levels (p = 0.001) during penods of respIte care. Careglver subjectively rated feelings of wellbeing were positively impacted by respite care (p =0.011). Care recIpIents expenenced SIgnificant decreases m total sleep time dunng respIte (p =0.016) and increased nocturnal activity levels. There was a hIgh correlation between caregiver and care recipIent total sleep time (p = 0 005). Post dIscharge, both caregivers and care recipIents expenenced reduced sleep outcomes compared to baseline levels, indlcatmg dIfficulties m readapting to the caregiving role in careglvers and to sleeping in the commumty post-respite m care recIpients. These findmgs suggest that respite care services lead to improvements in caregiver sleep that may extend care in the community. There are implications for Improved management of dementia care recipients post-dIscharge, partICularly in terms of supportmg careglvers in the commumty. ExaminatIOn of disturbance factors in the hospital from the perspective of dementia care recipients are discussed.

This thesis explores the statement that the health information needs and behaviour of the general public, namely health information consumers are comparable with those of academics, health and social care professionals. The research has been conducted in the broad Interpretist tradition, seeking to understand rather than merely explain human behaviour. A model depicting the health information and knowledge environment has been developed to show the how the infonnation behaviour of the various populations in the research are interpreted and where they are placed. The provision, access and use of health information by consumers is the focus of the inner core of the model and is the first theme of the thesis. Several discrete groups of the information poor are investigated to explore their information needs and behaviour. The middle layer of the model depicts the second theme of this thesis focusing on the attitudes of academics, health and social care professionals in their use and access of health information and IT in everyday practice. The information behaviour of the health information and library professional is the focus of the third theme of the thesis and is represented by the outer layer of the model. This theme explores the detail and the contribution of the role to the clinical team, the use of Evidence Based Medicine and Clinical Governance. Conclusions support the opening statement that the health information needs and behaviour of the general public, namely health information consumers are comparable with those of academics, health and social care professionals. Recommendations are made to promote better and more frequent use of health information and health information professionals in the everyday practice of health and social care; to improve the access and provision of health information for consumers.