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Development and evaluation of an educational intervention for general practitioners and staff caring for people with dementia living in residential facilities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2010

Christopher Beer ,
Rachel Lowry ,
Barbara Horner ,
Osvaldo P. Almeida ,
Samuel Scherer ,
Nicola T. Lautenschlager ,
Nick Bretland ,
Penelope Flett ,
Frank Schaper  and
Leon Flicker
Christopher Beer*
Affiliation:
Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing (M570), Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia Department of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Rachel Lowry
Affiliation:
Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing (M570), Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
Barbara Horner
Affiliation:
Centre for Research on Ageing, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Osvaldo P. Almeida
Affiliation:
Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing (M570), Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia Department of Psychiatry, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Samuel Scherer
Affiliation:
Royal Freemasons Homes of Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Nicola T. Lautenschlager
Affiliation:
Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing (M570), Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia Academic Unit for Psychiatry of Old Age, St. Vincent's Health, Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Normanby Unit, St. George's Hospital, Kew, Victoria, Australia
Nick Bretland
Affiliation:
Rowethorpe Medical Centre, Bentley, Western Australia, Australia
Penelope Flett
Affiliation:
Brightwater Care Group Inc, Osborne Park, Western Australia, Australia
Frank Schaper
Affiliation:
Alzheimer's Australia WA Ltd, Shenton Park, Western Australia, Australia
Leon Flicker
Affiliation:
Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing (M570), Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia School of Medicine and Pharmacology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia Department of Geriatric Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: A/Prof. Christopher Beer, WA Centre for Health & Ageing (M570), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Western Australia, Australia. Phone: +61 8 9224 2750; Fax: +61 8 9224 2063. Email: Christopher.beer@uwa.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background: Despite high levels of participation in dementia education, general practitioners (GPs) and residential care facility (RCF) staff report perceived learning needs. Small group education, which is flexible, individualized, practical and case-based, is sought. We aimed to develop educational interventions for GPs and RCF staff tailored to meet their perceived educational needs.

Methods: We used a consultative process to develop education programs. A flexible program for RCF staff was developed in 30-minute blocks, which could be combined in sessions of different lengths. The RCF program aimed to facilitate sustainable change by engaging local “Dementia Champions”. For GPs, face-to-face and self-directed packages were developed. We collected participant feedback to evaluate the program.

Results: GPs and RCF staff were recruited as part of a larger intervention study. Sixteen of the 27 GPs who were offered the dementia education participated. Two of the 16 GPs participated in both learning packages. A total of 45 GP feedback responses were received from 16 GPs: 28 out of 45 GPs (62%) reported that the participants' learning needs were entirely met. Eighteen of 19 facilities offered the intervention participated and 326 RCF staff attended one or more of the 94 RCF education sessions. Feedback was collected from 93 sessions: 1013 out of 1067 RCF staff feedback responses (95%) reported that the session met the participants' learning needs. Qualitative feedback was also strongly positive.

Conclusion: Participants perceived the education programs as meeting their needs. Despite explicit attempts to provide flexible delivery options, overall participation rates remained low.

Keywords

dementia careon-site educationDementia Championquality of life
Type
Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 23 , Issue 2 , March 2011 , pp. 221 - 229
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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