GP awareness, practice, knowledge and confidence: evaluation of the first nation-wide dementia-focused continuing medical education program in Australia

Abstract

Background: Dementia is under-diagnosed in primary care. Timely diagnosis and care management improve outcomes for patients and caregivers. This research evaluated the effectiveness of a nationwide Continuing Medical Education (CME) program to enhance dementia-related awareness, practice, knowledge and confidence of general practitioners (GPs) in Australia. Methods: Data were collected from self-report surveys by GPs who participated in an accredited CME program face-to-face or online; program evaluations from GPs; and process evaluations from workshop facilitators. CME participants completed surveys at one or more time-points (pre-, post-program, six to 9 months follow-up) between 2015 and 2017. Paired samples t-test was used to determine difference in mean outcome scores (self-reported change in awareness, knowledge, confidence, practice) between time-points. Multivariable regression analyses were used to investigate associations between respondent characteristics and key variables. Qualitative feedback was analysed thematically.

Child Sexual Exploitation: A Survey of Knowledge and Confidence of Healthcare Providers in Saskatchewan, Canada

“…The survey results also highlight the need for the educational module to include clear legal guidance for reporting. It has been shown that continuing medical education in many formats, including short and online formats, can improve both knowledge and confidence of primary care providers (Byszewski et al, 2003;Casey et al, 2020;Windt et al, 2015).…”

Effects of the dementia care toolbox on personnel’s self-reported confidence in patient care: a CRT in general practices

“…Several studies from various countries addressed this problem and studied interventions aiming to improve dementia care in primary care. In a large, nationwide dementia-focused Continuing Medical Education program with 1352 GPs from Australia, Casey et al 2020 found a significant increase in dementia awareness and self-reported confidence directly after the intervention and at 6 to 9 months follow-up measured with a self-report survey using mainly Likert scales [ 30 ]. In comparison to our 3-months intervention with printed materials only, the former-mentioned program offered at least 6 h online or face-to-face education including case studies and discussions to GPs.…”

What intervention options do general practitioners recommend in the case of dementia?—Results of a qualitative study

“…Zudem zeigen Studien, dass Hausärzt*innen nicht immer in die Behandlung von Demenzerkrankungen involviert sein möchten, weil sie Unsicherheiten im diagnostischen und therapeutischen Ablauf verspüren und nicht immer über das notwendige Hintergrund-bzw. Anwendungswissen verfügen [2,5,14,27,30]. Hinzu kommen in Teilen als spannungsreich erlebte Rollenkonstellationen im Umgang mit Patienten [19,30].…”

“…Wie Studien gezeigt haben, hängt dies zusammen mit dem Umstand, dass Demenzdiagnosen in der Hausarztpraxis oft nicht oder erst zu einem späten Zeitpunkt gestellt werden [6,17,31]. Auch wurde festgestellt, dass die hausärztliche Kenntnis von demenzbezogenen Diagnostik-und Versorgungsoptionen oft nicht in ausreichendem Maß gegeben ist [1,2,13,15,24,27,30,35]. Die Bereitschaft, Demenzpatienten therapeutisch zu begleiten, ist nur bei einem Teil der Hausärzt*innen vorhanden [32].…”