Enriching the care of patients with dementia in acute settings? The Dementia Champions Programme in Scotland

Abstract

Admission to hospital has been found to have a negative impact on people with dementia. The Scottish Dementia Champions programme was developed to prepare health and social service Dementia Champions working in acute settings as Change Agents. The programme was initially delivered to a cohort of 100 health professionals via blended learning, and comprised five study days, a half day spent in a local community setting, and e-learning. In order to complete the programme and graduate, participants were required to complete and submit reports relating to three work-based activities. The evaluation of the project adopted a two-pronged approach: Impact on programme participants was assessed by scores derived from the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ) (Lintern, 1996) completed at Study Days 1 and 5, and analysis of qualitative data derived from the three written assignments. Participants were asked to evaluate course materials and input for each of the five study days, as well as satisfaction with delivery. Analysis of data derived from the ADQ and 100 reflective reports of the community experience indicate that participants' perceptions of people with dementia shifted significantly during the Programme. Participants identified a range of issues which should be addressed with a view to improving the experiences of people with dementia in acute settings, and put in place actions to bring about change. The format of the programme provided a cost effective means to prepare NHS and Social Service Dementia Champions as Change Agents for practice within a relatively short period of time, and would be transferrable to other staff groups as well as different organisational structures in other countries.

Impact of a person-centred dementia care training programme on hospital staff attitudes, role efficacy and perceptions of caring for people with dementia: A repeated measures study

“…This supports findings from previous studies (Banks et al, 2014, Elvish et al, 2013, Galvin et al, 2012 which have demonstrated similar results.…”

“…Likewise, in a UK pre-post design study, Elvish et al (2013) found that in a sample of 71 general hospital staff who completed a 6-hour dementia training programme, knowledge about dementia, confidence in providing care to this group and beliefs about 'challenging behaviour', assessed using validated measures, significantly improved. Banks et al (2014) implemented a blended learning dementia champions programme comprised of 5 study days alongside a half day in a community care setting, with 100 staff working at an 'enhanced level' in acute settings. Participants were also required to undertake online activities in preparation for each study day, submit a reflective account of their half-day community observation and complete a written assignment.…”

Elements of a sustainable, competent, and empathetic workforce to support patients with dementia during an acute hospital stay: A comprehensive literature review

“…Nurses from different studies in this review believed they lacked the authority or power to influence or implement changes in practice, which undermines programmes such as the Dementia Champions . Therefore, there is a need for a clear focus to develop organisation and clinical support for the nursing workforce, including nurses in both decision‐making processes and in the development of workplace environments and structures …”

“…New roles, such as Dementia Champions, are now being implemented in acute care environments to act as change agents, with some positive results . A number of papers were identified, which discussed the implementation of new roles; however, these were not included in this review, as they lacked outcome data of staff knowledge, skills or competencies, or outcomes for patients and their families .…”

“…On reflection of this experience, health care professionals realised the need to address the accepted practice that occurs in acute settings, but simultaneously recognised the barriers to do so. However, commencement of action plans included changes to the environment, education, identifying people with dementia, involving relatives and carers, and identifying and managing delirium …”