Ms Eva Van Der Ploeg - Researcher Profile

Biography

Eva works in the Aged Mental Health Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences at Monash University as a Research Fellow. She is project manager of a large trial investigating the effectiveness of personalised Montessori activities on agitation in persons with dementia and numerous smaller projects focussing on the use of non-pharmacological interventions and assistive technology in the nursing home setting. She has extensive experience working in aged care facilities with people with dementia.

Related Links:

• Psych: Research Themes
• Aged Mental Health Research Unit

Research & Supervision Interests

Dementia

Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia

Residential care

Non-pharmacological and psychosocial interventions for dementia

Assistive technology

Keywords

Challenging behaviours , Dementia, Montessori activities, Non-pharmacological interventions , Nursing home

Qualifications

DOCTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Institution: Academiae Erasmianae Roterdamensis, The Netherlands

Year awarded: 2009

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN HEALTH SCIENCE-PUBLIC HEALTH

Institution: Academiae Erasmianae Roterdamensis, The Neth

Year awarded: 2008

MASTER OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY

Institution: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherland

Year awarded: 2004

DIPLOMA OF HPE (JOURNALISM & PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Institution: Hogeschool van Utrecht, The Netherlands

Year awarded: 1999

Publications

Journal Articles

Van Der Ploeg, E.S., Mbakile, T., Genovesi, S., O'Connor, D.W., 2012, The potential of volunteers to implement non-pharmacological interventions to reduce agitation associated with dementia in nursing home residents, International Psychogeriatrics [P], vol epub, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom, pp. 1-8.

Van Der Ploeg, E.S., Mbakile, T., Genovesi, S., O'Connor, D.W., 2012, The potential of volunteers to implement nonpharmacological interventions to reduce agitation associated with dementia in nursing home residents, International Psychogeriatrics [P], vol 24, issue 11, Cambridge, UK, pp. 1790-1797.

Van Der Ploeg, E., Camp, C., Eppingstall, B., Runci, S., O'Connor, D., 2012, The study protocol of a cluster-randomised controlled trial of family-mediated personalised activities for nursing home residents with dementia, BMC Geriatrics [E], vol 12, BioMed Central Ltd, United Kingdom, pp. 1-6.

Van Der Ploeg, E., O'Connor, D., 2010, Evaluation of personalised, one-to-one interaction using Montessori-type activities as a treatment of challenging behaviours in people with dementia: The study protocol of a crossover trial, BMC Geriatrics [E], vol 10, issue Art. No: 3, BioMed Central Ltd, UK, pp. 1-6.

Van Der Ploeg, E.S., Eppingstall, B.J., O'Connor, D.W., 2010, The study protocol of a blinded randomised-controlled cross-over trial of lavender oil as a treatment of behavioural symptoms in dementia, BMC Geriatrics [E], vol 10, issue Art. No: 49, BioMed Central Ltd, UK, pp. 1-5.

Van Der Ploeg, E.S., Depla, M., Shekelle, P., Rigter, H., Mackenbach, J.P., 2008, Developing quality indicators for general practice care for vulnerable elders; transfer from US to The Netherlands, Quality and Safety in Health Care [P], vol 17, BMJ, UK, pp. 291-295.

Grants

Title:

A clinical trial of personlised goal - directed activity to treat agitation in dementia.

Investigators:

O'Connor, D, Van Der Ploeg, E

Funding:

(2009 - 2013). Philanthropy, ANZ Trustees.

Title:

A randomised cross-over trial of family-mediated personalised activities for nursing home residents with dementia.

Investigators:

O'Connor, D, Van Der Ploeg, E, Runci, S, Camp, C, Moss, S

Funding:

(2012 - 2015). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

(2012 - 2016). National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Title:

Re-establishing a good relationship when a person with dementia resides in long-term care: Training dementia caregivers to conduct activities with their relatives in the nursing home setting.

Investigators:

Van Der Ploeg, E, O'Connor, D, Runci, S

Funding:

(2011 - 2015). Alzheimer's Australia Research Limited.

Postgraduate Research Supervisions

Current Supervision

Program of Study:

(DOCTORATE BY RESEARCH).

Thesis Title:

The development of a personalised multimedia interface for individuals with dementia.

Supervisors:

De Bono, A (Main), Coxon, S (Associate), O''Connor, D (Associate), Van Der Ploeg, E (Associate).