Educational intervention to enhance the knowledge of Ghanaian health workers on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) pose a major public health challenge in older adults. In sub-Saharan Africa, the burden of ADRD is projected to escalate amidst ill-equipped healthcare workers (HCWs).Aim: This study aimed to assess ADRD knowledge amongst Ghanaian HCWs and improve gaps identified through a workshop.Setting: Study was conducted among HCWs attending a workshop in Kumasi, Ghana.Methods: On 18 August 2021, a workshop on ADRD was organised in Kumasi, Ghana, which was attended by 49 HCWs comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and nutritionists. On arrival, they answered 30 pre-test questions using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS). A post-test using the same questionnaire was conducted after participants had been exposed to a 4-h in-person educational content on ADRD delivered by facilitators from family medicine, neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry and public health.Results: The mean age of participants was 34.6 (± 6.82), mean years of practice was 7.7 (± 5.6) and 38.8% (n = 19) were nurses. The mean score of participants’ overall knowledge was 19.8 (± 4.3) at pre-test and 23.2 (± 4.0) at post-test. Participants’ pre-test and post-test scores improved in all ADKS domains. Factors associated with participants’ knowledge at baseline were profession, professional rank and the highest level of education attained. After adjusting for age and sex, participant’s rank, being a specialist (adjusted β = 14.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 7.03, 21.85; p 0.001) was an independent predictor of knowledge on Alzheimer’s disease.Conclusion: Existing knowledge gaps in ADRD could be improved via continuous medical education interventions of HCWs to prepare healthcare systems in Africa for the predicted ADRD epidemic.

Professional care workforce: a rapid review of evidence supporting methods of recruitment, retention, safety, and education

“…Health workers = 1 day of training. 2 workers chosen to be ‘peer practice facilitators’ trained to lead 8 weekly mandatory clinical scenario practice drills (30–40 min) Education Nursing, Medical and Health Workforce East Africa (Tanzania; lower-middle income) Rural or semi-rural health facilities n = 61 Pre–post survey No No Knowledge (pre- and post-training assessment) Skill acquisition (3 simulated scenarios) Education 3 Ayisi-Boateng et al 2022 [ 42 ] Not stated Improve knowledge Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRDs) workshop Inservice training/education program Facilitators from family medicine, neurology, geriatrics, psychiatry and public health 4-h in-person educational content/workshop on ADRD Education Medical, Nursing, Allied Health and Aged Care Workforce Ghana (lower-middle income) Public and private healthcare facilities in Kumasi, Ghana Pre–post survey No No Knowledge Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale Education 4 Azoulay et al 2021 [ 43 ] Dedicated Liver Surgery Program Improve knowledge and skill acquisition; improve staff retention/recruitment Senior surgeon teaching liver surgery to junior colleagues, as well as mentor and develop their academic production Formal education program Chaim Sheba Medical Centre (Israel) 4 week resident rotations; WhatsApp group to share education; conferences; senior surgeon mentoring; senior liver specialist anaesthetist meetings; morbidity and mortality conference Recruitment, Retention and Education Medical Workforce Israel (high income) University-affiliated hospital Pre–post survey No No Surgery output, publication output, education uptake (What...…”

“…Skill acquisition—significant overall decline of skills at 10-month follow-up from 85.4 mean to 80.8 Knowledge: overall scores increased from 78 to 93% ( p < 0.0002). Skill acquisition: scores increased from 38 to 83% ( p < 0.000) Significant Diff 3 Ayisi-Boateng et al 2022 [ 42 ] n = 49 Mean 34.6 (± 6.82)—range 22–50 years M = 24 F = 25 19.8 (± 4.3) out of 30 Score relates to participants’ knowledge n = 49 mean 34.6 (± 6.82)—range 22–50 years M = 24 F = 25 23.2 (± 4.0) out of 30 Score relates to participants’ knowledge increase in the proportion of participants who had correct answers in all the seven domains ( p < 0.01) Significant Diff 4 Azoulay et al 2021 [ 43 ] Resident numbers not provided Not stated not stated Number of surgeries: 2/138 (0.1%) hepatectomies during period 1 (first 2 years). No WhatsApp HPB Group in period 1.…”

“…Of the 24 education investigations, 18 were conducted in high income countries, [ 40 , 43 – 46 , 50 – 52 , 55 – 57 , 59 – 61 , 64 , 66 , 67 ] and six were conducted in low-to-low–middle income countries, [ 41 , 42 , 48 , 49 , 58 , 65 ]. Of the four studies that did not demonstrate significant findings, three were based on the USA (high income country) and aimed to improve cancer knowledge, [ 57 ] nursing leadership, [ 60 ], and care workforce needs during COVID-19 [ 66 ].…”

A multi-themed and multi-format intervention program for improving dementia literacy among Chinese older adults: Study protocol for a non-randomized controlled trial

“…α was set at 0.05 and β at 0.10. Referencing the study by Ayisi-Boateng et al a minimum sample size of 34 cases is needed [34]. The required sample size becomes at least 42 cases after factoring in a 20% dropout rate.…”

Senile dementia and psychiatric stigma among community health service providers and relatives of diagnosed and suspected dementia patients: a cross-sectional study

“…Most studies are limited to a specific group, and only a few of them investigate multiple groups simultaneously in a period of time. Most of the results are difficult to be compared horizontally because they were based on various research tools ( Ayisi-Boateng et al, 2022 ; Strøm, Engedal & Andreassen, 2019 ; Crawley et al, 2022 ; Oliveira et al, 2022 ).…”