Background: People with dementia (PwD) are frequently admitted to hospital settings. The lack of proper dementia knowledge, poor communication skills, negative attitudes toward dementia, and lack of confidence affects the quality of care, thus development of dementia trainings has increased. Nevertheless, literature regarding the effectiveness of training implementation is limited. Objective: The aim of this narrative synthesis is to 1) identify the characteristics of training programs and 2) explore the effectiveness of these training programs in everyday clinical practice. Methods: A systematic search in PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Cochrane was conducted, including qualitative and quantitative peer-reviewed studies. Holton’s evaluation model with its three outcome levels (learning, individual performance, and organizational results) was adopted. 14 studies were included. Results: The synthesis of the results was divided into two parts: 1) to describe the characteristics and content of trainings 2) to evaluate the effectiveness of training programs according to the three outcome levels of Holton’s model, taking into consideration its construct domains: ability, motivation, and environment. Learning outcomes were assessed in all selected studies: 13 studies observed changes in individual performance, four studies reported changes within the organizational level, and only five showed sustainable changes over time. Conclusion: Person-centered care (PCC) approaches, interactive and varied teaching methods, supporting conditions like champions, action plans, and setting care policies, are all characteristics of effective trainings. Successful programs should be sustainable over time, demonstrating positive outcomes across the organization. Based on current findings, there is a lack of adequate evaluation with regard to training programs on the organizational level.

Background: The outcomes of hospitalized People with Dementia (PwD) are likely to be negative due to, among other key causes, negative staff attitudes and limited staff knowledge regarding dementia. Targeted interventions have been shown to positively change the attitudes of the hospital staff while also increasing their overall knowledge of dementia. However, training effects are often short-lived and frequently long-term effects are not examined in studies. Objective: To examine whether attending a dementia training program changes the attitudes of hospital staff toward PwD and/or increases their knowledge levels about dementia, and whether or not these changes are stable. Methods: The training program lasted two days and N = 60 attending hospital staff members agreed to participate in the study. Data were assessed with questionnaires prior to the training, 3 months, and 6 months after the training. German versions of the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS-D) and the Knowledge in Dementia (KIDE) scale were used. Additionally, data about perception of PwD and confidence in dealing with challenging behavior were collected and analyzed. Results: After the training program, participants showed a significantly better attitude toward PwD as measured by DAS-D. These time-effects occurred in both DAS-D subscales (“dementia knowledge” and “social comfort”). Although a positive trend could be seen in the KIDE scale, no statistically significant increase occurred over time. Conclusion: Specialist training programs seem to be promising in positively changing attitudes toward and increasing knowledge about PwD with long-term effects. Further research should address the effects of attitude change in patient care.

The potential benefits of home visits by community pharmacists to housebound people with medication difficulties were examined. Sixteen community pharmacist volunteers made initial home visits to 39 patients referred by 14 general practitioners. The medication in their possession was noted, and information about the medication recorded from the medication container label, a patient medication record provided by the referring sugery and the patients' own knowledge. In 35 cases there were discrepancies between the medicines in the patient's possession, those they were currently taking and those listed on the patient medication record. Non‐adherence, medication hoarding and adverse drug reactions were found. After each visit a summary was sent to the patient's GP and dispensing pharmacist. GP intervention was requested for 25 patients and dispensing pharmacist intervention for 17. Follow‐up visits to 18 patients one month later showed that 37 per cent of suggested GP interventions and 50 per cent of suggested dispensing pharmacist interventions had been acted on. Feedback was received from the visiting pharmacists during a meeting and from the GPs and dispensing pharmacists by interview. The service was valued by the patients and endorsed by the GPs and all the community pharmacists involved, indicating that community pharmacists have a potential role to play in enhancing the care of specific housebound patients through domiciliary visits.

Background: Entering the hospital via an emergency department (ED) is a pivotal moment in the life of people with dementia (PwD) and often starts an avoidable downward spiral. Therefore, it is required to further educate ED staff to raise awareness of the needs of PwD. Although there are many studies about existing dementia training programs for the hospital setting, empirical evidence for the ED setting and cross-level training evaluations are lacking. Objective: The study aims to evaluate a two-day dementia training course for ED staff on the outcome levels of learning, individual performance, and organizational performance. Furthermore, the study examines whether the training fulfilled participants’ expectations. Methods: Mixed methods were used to assess data from head nurses, nursing, and administrative staff working in EDs. We conducted semi-structured interviews three weeks before (N = 18) and eight months after (N = 9) the training. Questionnaire data were assessed before the training, three months, and six months after the training (N = 44). A qualitative content analysis was conducted to analyze qualitative data; quantitative data was described descriptively. Results: The intervention seems to be effective on both learning and individual performance levels. However, we did not observe any changes in the organizational performance. The training program met attendees’ expectations only partly. The working environment of EDs needs to be taken more into account. Conclusion: Hospital staffs’ expectations of a dementia training program depend on the work area in which they operate. Results support the implementation of intervention bundles to enable sustainable cross-level changes.

No abstract

No abstract

Older people with dementia are more frequently hospitalized and more strongly associated with negative outcomes. We examined the acceptance and the effect of a dementia training on attitudes and knowledge of the hospital staff. In the current study, we utilized a mixed-methods research design to examine a clinic group of six hospitals in Germany. Besides semi-structured interviews, we collected quantitative data with a questionnaire given before and three-months after the training. The questionnaire contained German translated versions of the Knowledge in Dementia (KIDE) Scale and the Dementia Attitudes Scale (DAS-D) to assess changes in attitudes. The participant population (N=60) consisted of nurses (n=35, 58%), medical assistants (n=13, 22%) and other medical professions. Satisfaction with the training was predominantly positive, 92% would recommend the training to their colleagues. At baseline, a small but significant correlation between the standardized questionnaires KIDE and DAS-D was evident (r(60)=.357, p=.005). The participants (n=32) showed a more positive attitude in the post-test (M=5.39, SD=0.64) than in the baseline-test (M=5.19, SD=0.66). This difference was significant (t(31)=-2.434, p=.021). However, we did not find any significant effects on the KIDE. The reason for this may be the use of a standardized questionnaire, which does not reflect the increase in knowledge, or there has been no increase in knowledge of dementia. The results are based on a small sample size. However, they have demonstrated that dementia training can positively influence attitudes toward people with dementia. A significant increase in knowledge was expected but could not be demonstrated.

BackgroundThe number of dementia training programs in hospital settings is steadily increasing. The way training sessions are designed influences the way the learning content is implemented in practice. To develop a successful training it is important to meet the needs of the target group; however, not much is known about staff preferences and expectations relevant to future dementia training programs in hospitals in Germany and Greece.ObjectiveThe aim of this survey was to explore staff training needs relevant to the topic of dementia, in general hospitals in Germany and Greece. This study analyzed the interests of staff members, preferences and expectations with respect to dementia training.Material and methodsThis was a descriptive survey based on a 54-item questionnaire conducted with 61 nursing staff, head nurses and physicians (Germany: n = 25, Greece: n = 36) recruited from 5 hospitals (Germany: n = 3, Greece: n = 2). Parts of the questionnaire explored participants’ previous education regarding dementia and their expectations towards future dementia programs.ResultsAlthough staff attendance in educative programs was high in the last 5 years for both countries, participation in dementia training programs was low (Germany 24%, Greece 5.5%). Additionally, the great majority of participants were willing to be trained in future dementia training programs (Germany 96%, Greece 100%). Employees from both countries expect increased clinical skills as a result of participation in such training programs. In Greece, staff members hope for better handling of people with dementia, while in Germany, concrete practical advice is preferred.ConclusionThere seems to be a strong willingness to participate in further dementia training programs where not only theoretical knowledge is provided but also practical advice.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s00391-019-01625-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.