Perceived Well-Being among Adults with Diabetes and Hypertension: A National Study.

Perceived health and distresses are associated with the practice of lifestyle modifications, which increases the risk of diabetes and hypertension-related complications. This study aimed to define the characteristics and distribution of perceived health and distresses across the states between people with diabetes and hypertension. Data were derived from a national survey of US adults aged ≥18 years who were interviewed via phone call. Perceived health and distresses were assessed through corresponding questions. An amount of 333,316 respondents (43,911 with diabetes and 130,960 with hypertension) were included in the analysis; 61.8% of people with diabetes and 74.5% of people with hypertension reported having good or better health, while residents in the Southwest region perceived poor health statuses and more distresses. Education level (diabetes: odds ratio [OR] = 0.47-0.79, hypertension: OR = 0.42-0.76), employment status level (diabetes: OR = 1.40-2.22, hypertension: OR = 1.56-2.49), and household income (diabetes: OR = 0.22-0.65, hypertension: OR = 0.15-0.78) were significant factors associated with poorly perceived health among people with diabetes and hypertension, and the use of technology and strategies for policymakers are suggested to improve the perceived health status in this regard.

Epidemiology of Dementia in China in 2010-2020: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Dementia has become one of the leading causes of death across the world. AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of dementia in China between 2010 and 2020, and to investigate any geographical, age, and sex differences in the prevalence and incidence of dementia. METHODS: Five databases were searched. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tool was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A random-effects meta-analysis was performed to estimate the pooled prevalence of dementia. Subgroup analysis was based on the type of dementia. The incidence and mortality of dementia were synthesized qualitatively. RESULTS: A total of 19 studies were included. The meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of dementia was 6% (95%CI 5%, 8%), the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) was 5% (95%CI 4%, 6%), and the prevalence of vascular dementia (VaD) was 1% (95%CI 0%, 2%). The subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence rates of dementia in rural (6%, 95%CI 4%, 8%) and urban areas were similar (6%, 95%CI 4%, 8%). Deaths due to dementia increased over time. CONCLUSION: The prevalence, incidence, and mortality of dementia increased with age and over time. Applying consistent criteria to the diagnosis of cognitive impairment and dementia is necessary to help with disease monitoring. Promoting dementia knowledge and awareness at the community level is necessary.

Realization of qualitative to semi-quantitative trace detection via SERS-ICA based on internal standard method.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) can quickly identify molecular fingerprints and has been widely used in the field of rapid detection. However, the non-uniformity inherent in SERS substrate signals, coupled with the finite nature of the detection object, significantly hampers the advancement of SERS. Nowadays, the existing mature immunochromatographic assay (ICA) method is usually combined with SERS technology to address the defects of SERS detection. Nevertheless, the porous structure of the strip will also affect the signal uniformity during detection. Obviously, a method using SERS-ICA is needed to effectively solve signal fluctuations, improve detection accuracy, and has certain versatility. This paper introduces an internal standard method combining deep learning to predict and process Raman data. Based on the signal fluctuation of single-antigen SERS-ICA test strip, the double-antigen SERS-ICA test strip was constructed. The full spectrum Raman data of double-antigen SERS-ICA test strip was normalized by the sum of two characteristic peaks of internal standard molecules, and then processed by deep learning algorithm. The Relative Standard Deviation (RSD) of Raman data of bisphenol A was compared before and after internal standard normalization of double-antigen SERS-ICA test strip. The RSD processed by this method was increased by 3.8 times. After normalization, the prediction accuracy of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is improved by 2.66 times, and the prediction accuracy of R-square (R2) is increased from 0.961 to 0.994. The results showed that RMSE and R2 were used to comprehensively predict the collected data of double-antigen SERS-ICA test strip, which could effectively improve the prediction accuracy. The internal standard algorithm can effectively solve the challenges of uneven hot spots and poor signal reproducibility on the test strip to a certain extent, so as to improve the semi-quantitative accuracy.

Experience in Accessing Healthcare in Ethnic Minority Patients with Chronic Respiratory Diseases: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Access to healthcare is part of every individual's human rights; however, many studies have illustrated that ethnic minority patients seem to be confronted with barriers when using healthcare services. Understanding how healthcare utilities are accessed from the perspective of patients and why healthcare disparities occur with patients from a minority background has the potential to improve health equality and care quality. This qualitative systematic review aims to gain insights into the experiences of people with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) from a minority background and explore factors contributing to their experiences in accessing healthcare to inform related health policy makers and healthcare providers. METHODS: This systematic review complied with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, where the Joanna Briggs Institute meta-aggregative instrument facilitated the qualitative synthesis. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022346055). PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL were the databases explored. RESULTS: From the papers selected, 47 findings were derived from 10 included studies, and four synthesised findings were generated: (1) the relationship between patients and healthcare professionals affects the usage of healthcare services; (2) patients' perceptions and cultural beliefs affect their compliance with disease management; (3) personal behaviours affect the usage of healthcare services; and (4) health resource inequalities have an impact on accessing healthcare services. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review demonstrates that ethnic minorities with CRDs face inequalities when engaging in healthcare. The relationship between patients and clinicians impacting the use of healthcare is the most pivotal discovery, where not speaking the same language and being of a different race alongside the accompanying criticism and faith in facilities are key contributors to this effect. In addition, the thinking patterns of these marginalised groups may reflect their cultural upbringing and diminish their engagement with therapies. This paper has uncovered ways to attenuate inequalities amongst ethnic minorities in engaging with healthcare providers and provides insight into building effective equity-promoting interventions in healthcare systems. To overcome these disparities, coaching doctors to communicate better with minority cohorts could help such patients to be more comfortable in connecting with medical facilities.

Survey-identified experiences of prediagnosis and diagnosis process among patients with COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease and bronchiectasis.

INTRODUCTION: Diagnosis of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchiectasis and interstitial lung disease (ILD) can be convoluted, and limited data exist on understanding the experience of diagnosis from a patient perspective. AIM: To investigate a patient's 'route to diagnosis', particularly focusing on the time prior to seeking healthcare, and perceived experiences of the diagnostic pathway. METHODS: An online survey was distributed via the UK Taskforce for Lung Health and member mailing lists to patients as well as the website and social media accounts from 23 May 2022 to 5 July 2022. Analysis was descriptive; χ2 tests were performed to make comparisons across diseases. RESULTS: There were 398 valid responses (COPD=156, asthma=119, ILD=67 and bronchiectasis=56). While only 9.2% of respondents who were eventually diagnosed with asthma had not heard of their disease, the corresponding percentages for COPD, ILD and bronchiectasis were 34.0%, 74.6% and 69.6%, respectively. 33.9% of people with bronchiectasis believed their delayed diagnosis was due to the health professionals' lack of expertise or knowledge-24.4% for asthma, 19.2% for COPD and 17.9% for ILD.People with COPD were more likely (37.2%) and patients with asthma less likely (10.9%) to report they did not know the signs of potential lung disease (p<0.001). People with COPD were more likely to report that they did not appreciate the severity or urgency of the situation (58.3%) than people with asthma (32.8%), ILD (43.3%) or bronchiectasis (28.6%, p<0.001). The proportion of patients reporting that they were being initially treated for another lung condition was higher in people with bronchiectasis (44.6%) and lower in people with asthma (8.4%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Perceived reasons for diagnostic delay can help health professionals promote early diagnosis and management. Patients' limited knowledge of respiratory diseases also played a factor, indicating the necessity to promote patients' knowledge to encourage earlier help seeking.

The operational experience of private owners of small-sized care homes in China: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Private small-sized care homes (<50 beds)  have proliferated across China, however, until recently little was known about the characteristics of such institutions, and the challenges and the problems faced by their owners. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of small-sized, privately-owned care homes in the People's Republic of China; and to understand the motivation and challenges faced by their owners. METHODS: This study used an interpretative phenomenological analysis approach of qualitative research. Owners of eight small-sized private care homes located in two cities of Henan Province, China, were interviewed using semi-structured interviews. RESULTS: Four themes and eight subthemes were identified: 1. Motivation for establishing a care home business; 2. Certification and establishing a legal footing for the business; 3. Operational challenges; 4. Future business development. The study found that the development of privately owned small-sized care homes faced great challenges and critical survival problems due to policies, staffing, and management issues. There is a lack of regulations about the safety and quality of care provided for older people and a lack of legal protections for the owners of small-sized private care homes. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that formal regulations and provisions are needed to support these smaller-sized private care homes. Monitoring is also needed to ensure the quality of care. It also suggests that there needs more support by policymakers as well as provision monitoring services to improve quality of care in these care homes. Care regulations and standards are not unique to China so findings from this study can be applied to places where there are similar situations or if there are aged care services still developing.

Online Survey to Investigate Asthma Medication Prescription and Adherence from the Perspective of Patients and Healthcare Practitioners in England.

Background: High short-acting ß2-agonist (SABA) use and/or inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) underuse are common and are associated with poor asthma outcomes. This study explored patients' and healthcare practitioners' (HCPs') perspectives to contextualize asthma treatment patterns observed in real-world studies. Methods: Data were collected using online surveys from HCPs and people with asthma (≥18 years old with a confirmed asthma diagnosis of any severity) who had consented to research participation through the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: In total, 76 HCPs and 63 patients were invited to take part. Of 48 valid HCP responders, 54.2% (n=26) reported scheduling an annual asthma treatment review with their patients and 83.3% of general practitioners (n=40) had prescribed repeated inhalers at the patient's request. Of 47 valid patient responders, 57.4% (n=27) reported using their reliever (SABA) inhaler daily and 55.3% of patients (n=26) reported being prescribed a preventer inhaler. Of the total patient responders, 31.9% (n=15) reported that they never used their preventer inhaler. Consistent annual adherence with preventer inhalers was reported by 44.7% of all valid responders (n=21), while other patients admitted to using preventers intermittently. Conclusion: SABA and ICS prescription patterns are driven by a combination of HCP and patient factors. Opportunities exist to improve asthma control and behaviours around inhaler use.

Patient Experiences of Communication with Healthcare Professionals on Their Healthcare Management around Chronic Respiratory Diseases.

BACKGROUND: Communication is an important clinical tool for the prevention and control of diseases, to advise and inform patients and the public, providing them with essential knowledge regarding healthcare and disease management. This study explored the experience of communication between healthcare professionals (HCPs) and people with long-term lung conditions, from the patient perspective. METHODS: This qualitative study analyzed the experience of people with chronic lung disease, recruited via Asthma & Lung UK (A&LUK) and COPD research databases. A&LUK invited people who had expressed a desire to be involved in research associated with their condition via their Expert Patient Panel and associated patients' groups. Two focus group interviews (12 participants) and one individual interview (1 participant) were conducted. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Two main themes were identified and we named them 'involving communication' and 'communication needs to be improved. 'They included seven subthemes: community-led support increased the patients' social interaction with peers; allied-HCP-led support increased patients' satisfaction; disliking being repeatedly asked the same basic information; feeling communication was unengaging, lacking personal specifics and the use of medical terminology and jargon. CONCLUSIONS: The study has identified what most matters in the process of communication with HCPs in people with long-term respiratory diseases of their healthcare management. The findings of the study can be used to improve the patient-healthcare professional relationship and facilitate a better communication flow in long-term healthcare management.

Medication Adherence in People with Asthma: A Qualitative Systematic Review of Patient and Health Professional Perspectives.

Background: Increased medication adherence leads to better asthma control and health outcomes. However, many studies have found that patient adherence to maintenance medication is poor. Aim: We undertook a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies, to investigate asthma patient and healthcare professionals' perspectives of medication adherence. Methods: This systematic review was reported by following the PRISMA guidelines. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) meta-aggregative approach was used for the qualitative synthesis. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022346831). Results: In total, 12 articles were included in the review. These articles reported findings from 433 participants in total, which included 315 patients and 118 healthcare professionals. Four synthesised findings with sub-themes were identified from the reviewed studies. These synthesised findings were described as: 1) The role of relationship and communication with/between Healthcare Professionals in medication adherence; 2) Insufficient information from Healthcare Professionals acting as a barrier for adherence; 3) How patient's attitude/beliefs effect their adherence to medication; and 4) Patients' personal behaviour and other relevant barriers. Conclusion: The synthesized findings provide a strong evidence-base of patient and health professionals' perspectives and behaviours toward medication adherence, which helps to identify and address non-adherence. Healthcare providers can use these findings to support patients' adherence to asthma medications. The findings suggest that empowering people to make informed decisions around medication adherence rather than "adherence controlling" by health professionals is very important. Effective dialogue and appropriate education are critical approaches to increase medication adherence.

Living with dementia: Why I am thinking of 'death'.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dementia is recognized globally as a massive burden on public health and wider society. It is a major cause of disability and mortality amongst older people. China has the largest population of people with dementia worldwide, accounting for approximately 25% of the entire global population of people with dementia. The study investigated the perceived experiences of care giving and care receiving in China, with one area identified in the data concerning the extent to which the participants discussed death. The research also explored the meaning of living with dementia in modern China, where the economy, demography and culture are rapidly changing. METHOD: The qualitative approach of interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for this study. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. FINDING: The paper reports on one specific finding concerning death as a way out of the situation that participants found themselves in. CONCLUSION: The study described and interpreted one of the specific issues, 'death', in the participants' narratives. This finding reflects how psychological and social factors, such as stress, social support, healthcare cost, caring burden and medical practice have created the participants' thoughts of 'wishing to die' and the reasons why they believe 'death is a way to reduce burden'. It calls for an understanding, supportive social environment and a reconsideration of a culturally and economically appropriate family-based care system.

The lived experience of family members of older people who have died by suicide in rural China.

AIM: The aim of the study is to provide insight and facilitate a deeper understanding of family members who have experienced their older family member's suicide. DESIGN: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) study. METHODS: Semi-structured individual interviews with five family members of older people who died by suicide recruited from a rural area of Shanxi Province, China. Smith's (2009) six steps of IPA was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes emerged from the study: (a) Initial psychological reactions; (b) Long-term life effects; (c) Social attitudes. The study shows how the family members of older people who died by suicide have experienced stigmatization and felt largely ignored. A suicide event poses a challenge to the future living quality of the family members. The study also highlights that it is necessary to pay attention to families of older people who died by suicide and providing support is required to improve the quality of life of these family members in rural China. CONCLUSION: The study adds to the understanding of the lived experience of family members of older people who died by suicide in less economically developed rural areas. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Patients and the public were not involved in the design, conduct or reporting of this study. Participants of this study helped with recruitment via snowball sampling.

A qualitative study exploring nursing students' perspectives on and attitudes towards hospice care in China.

BACKGROUND: With the fast growth of the older population and the increasing rates of chronic illnesses, the demand for hospice care is increasing at a rapid pace. This is bringing great challenges to the healthcare system in China. Given that nursing students will be the main healthcare workforce in the future, and as such, have responsibilities to prepare for these challenges. Therefore, understanding nursing students' perspectives and attitudes towards hospice care in China is important to promote the development of hospice care services. OBJECTIVES: To explore the perspectives and attitudes of Chinese nursing students towards hospice care. METHOD: The descriptive phenomenology of a qualitative approach was used for the study. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews from 11 nursing students in China between April and June 2021. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven-step approach. FINDINGS: Three main themes were identified: (1) Lack of knowledge and skills; (2) lack of clinical experience; and (3) needs for service improvement. These findings indicated the problems of hospice care education and hospice care services in China. CONCLUSION: The nursing students in this study lacked theoretical knowledge and the practical skills of hospice care. This suggests that medical educational institutions and the government should take action to increase hospice care training for nursing students, in order to increase the capacity and availability of hospice care services. It also informs policy-makers, health professionals, and health educators about the further need for the development of hospice care services in China.

The life of people with dementia who have multiple children in rural China: A phenomenological case study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of a rural dwelling person living with dementia and his children. Using a phenomenological case study methodology, it aims to explore the health-related and personal dilemmas faced by multiple family members who provide care to a person living with dementia in a rural area in Henan, China. The study also investigates the barriers to quality dementia care in this kind of setting in order to inform the relevant stakeholders. METHOD: A phenomenological case study was designed for this study. The case that formed the focus of the research included a person living with dementia and multiple family members. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were undertaken with the five family members of the person living with dementia. Smith's interpretative phenomenological analysis was used for data analysis. FINDINGS: Three major themes were identified: (1) Dementia as a normal ageing process or a bad disease; (2) Commitment to and challenges of family caring and (3) Life in rural areas. CONCLUSION: With the development of China's economy and its social-cultural changes, traditional home-based care provision in rural areas of China is being challenged for people with dementia who have multiple children. It suggests that there needs to be an exploration into providing more appropriate care for people with dementia living in rural settings. It also suggests that more support is required to increase dementia awareness and to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their families in rural China.

Measurement of trace bisphenol A in drinking water with combination of immunochromatographic detection technology and SERS method.

Sensitive and selective detection of target analyte is very important in many fields such as commodity inspection and quality monitoring. In this work, based on the principle of competitive immunoassay, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to establish a rapid and highly sensitive method for the detection of trace amounts of bisphenol A in water. Here, Raman molecule 5,5-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoic acid and anti-BPA antibody were conjugated with Au (core)@Ag (shell) nanoparticle to serve as SERS nanoprobe. After the SERS nanoprobe is combined with the substance to be tested, it uses the siphon effect to pass through the test line and the charging line on the test strip. And the Raman test was performed on the T line with a Raman spectrometer. The detection limitation was 0.1 pg/mL. Compared with the reported gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, fluorescence analysis, and other detection methods, SERS ICA does not demand complicated sample preparation procedures, and has the advantages of simple detection methods, quick results, High sensitivity, good specificity, and low technical demands for laboratory environment and testers. In addition, Raman spectrometers have gradually developed to be portable, making it easier to meet the needs of on-site rapid and highly sensitive detection, and will show broad prospects for applications in the fields of biomedical diagnosis and food safety monitoring.

PRDX3 promotes resistance to cisplatin in gastric cancer cells.

Objective: This study aims to investigate peroxiredoxin 3 (PRDX3) expression in gastric cancer tissue and its effects on cisplatin resistance in gastric cancer cells and its possible mechanism. Methods: PRDX3 expression in human gastric cancer tissue microarrays was detected via immunohistochemistry. The PRDX3 small interfering RNA (siPRDX3 group) and the negative control siNC (siNC group) were transfected into AGS and MKN-74 cell lines, respectively, whereas a blank control group was set up. Each group was treated with different cisplatin concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 µg/ml), and the half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of each group of the two cell lines was calculated using the CCK8 assay. The corresponding IC50 concentration of the siPRDX3 group in the two cell lines was used to treat cells of each group. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis, and Western blotting was used to detect the expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax in each group. Results: PRDX3 was overexpressed in gastric adenocarcinoma tissue compared with adjacent noncancer tissue (P = 0.0053). After cisplatin treatment, the IC50 in the siPRDX3 group of AGS cells (5.91 ± 0.18 µg/ml) and the siPRDX3 group of MKN-74 cells (3.48 ± 0.30 µg/ml) was significantly lower than in the corresponding siNC groups (10.01 ± 0.99 and 6.39 ± 0.70 µg/ml; P = 0.0022 and 0.0027, respectively). AGS cells (38.81% ± 1.69%) and MKN-74 cells (25.03% ± 2.80%) in the siPRDX3 group showed significantly higher apoptosis rates than in the corresponding siNC groups (23.17% ± 1.43% and 16.7% ± 1.39%; P = 0.0003 and 0.0099, respectively). The expression levels of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax were significantly higher in the siPRDX3 group of both cell lines than in the siNC group (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: PRDX3 increases the gastric cancer cell resistance to cisplatin by reducing apoptosis and thus may serve as a target to overcome cisplatin resistance.

The experience of bereavement on family caregivers of people with dementia in China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Despite many studies on 'life after care' for family caregivers with dementia in Western societies, little is known about the bereavement experiences of family caregivers in China. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China. It also hopes to inform end-of-life care within communities, providing a theoretical basis for improving the quality of life of bereaved family caregivers. METHODS: Interpretative phenomenological analysis approach was adapted for this study. Purposive sampling was used to recruit former family caregivers of people with dementia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 12 bereaved family caregivers were collected. Thematic analysis was used for data analysis. FINDINGS: Five themes were identified: recalling the past life, lack of support, uncertainty of the future, social withdrawal and acceptance and release. CONCLUSION: The experiences of bereavement on family members of people with dementia in China are socially and culturally complex. This article recommends that bereavement should be supported throughout the palliative process of community services and healthcare services. Providing all-round support and education on death and dying can help the family caregivers to pass through grief and help them to maintain their normal life.

A qualitative study of family caregivers' coping strategies of looking after people with dementia in China.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Globally, two thirds of people with dementia are cared for by their families or friends. Family caregivers' coping strategies of managing the caregiving burden of dementia have been studied widely in western literature. However, few attempts have been made to explore the experience of family caregivers' coping strategies in China. The aim of this study was to explore the family caregivers' coping strategies when caring for people with dementia in one city in the province of Shandong, China. METHODS: Fourteen family caregivers were individually interviewed, and interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to identify themes within different family members. RESULTS: Four key themes were found: (a) being filial; (b) changing self and self-care; (c) seeking help; and (d) having hope and continuing life. CONCLUSION: The study illustrates the different strategies developed by family members in order to cope with their new roles when caring for a relative who has dementia. It shows that cultural belief of filial piety plays a large role across these various coping strategies. It highlights how responsibility has been maintained and influenced by the specific sociocultural context. The results provide a useful foundation for developing interventions that support family caregivers cope with the burden of caring in this population.

A thematic analysis of Chinese people with dementia and family caregivers' experiences of home care in China.

Ageing in place is a key principle of older care services in many countries, especially in China where the social convention, cultural expectation and legal obligation emphasise that looking after parents is the children's responsibility. As a result, the majority of older, frail Chinese have been cared for at home by their families. Previous studies have argued that being cared for at home contributes positively to the well-being and quality of life of older people and to economic cost. However, due to the sociocultural, economic and demographic changes in China, older people and their family caregivers are facing many challenges as they 'age in place' at home. This study aims to explore the meaning of family supported home care in China from the perspectives of people with dementia and family caregivers. The study is based on qualitative data collected from 24 people with dementia and family caregivers recruited from one mental health centre in Shandong province, China. Three main themes and nine subthemes were found: home care may create a sense of social isolation; home care is a burden; home care versus institutional care. The study suggests that while home care may bring social and psychological benefits, it also can be a barrier to building social connection, receiving social support, and other related services in China.

Tensions in dementia care in China: An interpretative phenomenological study from Shandong province.

AIMS: The study aims to analyse the tensions and the challenges of dementia care that are experienced by people with dementia and their family caregivers in China. BACKGROUND: China has the largest dementia population in the world; however, dementia care services and related support services are still developing. Caring for a person with dementia is very challenging, as evidenced by many studies. As the majority of people with dementia are looked after by their family in their homes in China, it is very important to understand what people with dementia and their family caregivers are experiencing in the context of dementia care services that are in the process of developing. DESIGN: Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used. METHOD: Semi-structured individual interviews with 24 participants (10 people with dementia and 14 unrelated family caregivers) recruited from a mental health centre in Shandong Province. FINDINGS: Three main themes emerged that highlighted unmet need: (a) Lack of support services, (b) Insufficient institutional care and (c) Social attitude and social stigma towards dementia. CONCLUSIONS: These themes reveal the challenges that the participants face in the context of dementia care services that are in the process of development in China; and how their lived experiences have been affected by the constraints of social support, public services, healthcare access, long-term care services and social stigma. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This study highlights the tensions that are identified by people with dementia and family caregivers. The research recommends that more support services would be beneficial for this group and would also enhance family support dementia care in China. Looking after an older family member is a culturally, socially and legally embodied norm in Chinese society, so it is important to address education for dementia awareness and the sustainability of family support care services in China by providing dementia services and resources to support both people with dementia and family caregivers.