# Dementia Education and Training for In-Patient Health Care Support Workers in Acute Care Contexts: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Evaluation

## TL;DR

This study evaluates a dementia education program for acute care support staff, finding it improves knowledge, attitudes, and confidence in dementia care.

## Contribution

The study introduces peer-supported reflective learning in small groups as a novel approach for dementia workforce training.

## Key findings

- Support staff showed enhanced dementia knowledge, attitudes, and confidence after the training.
- Three key themes emerged from interviews: dementia in acute care, motivation for learning, and intervention evaluation.
- Peer-supported reflective learning in small groups is identified as an underused but effective pedagogical approach.

## Abstract

Aim: To understand dementia care knowledge, attitudes, and confidence among acute-care support staff following a dementia education intervention titled Dementia Workforce Excellence in Acute Care. Design: A convergent parallel mixed-methods pilot study. Methods: Data were collected from 30 participants using an online survey and three individual interviews between January and March 2024. Survey data were analysed using descriptive statistics, and a thematic analysis underpinned by Kirkpatrick’s framework was used to analyse the qualitative data from interviews. Results: The online survey established good levels of dementia knowledge, attitudes, and confidence among support staff with enhanced attitudes among staff who completed the training. Analysis of interviews resulted in three themes: dementia in the acute care setting; motivation for learning; and evaluation of the intervention on four levels [satisfaction, learning gains, behaviours, and results]. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the dementia education intervention used in this study is a comprehensive dementia training resource that promotes person-centred and compassionate dementia care across all stages of the dementia journey. Dementia is a public health priority with workforce education identified as a key response for capacity building. This pilot evaluation offers insight and new learning on the pedagogical approaches that are inclusive of peer-supported reflective learning in small groups that remain untapped for dementia workforce development. Dementia inclusive and enabling environments with a knowledgeable and skilled workforce are crucial to mitigate stigma and discrimination. This can be best achieved by raising awareness through targeted staff education and training to make hospital environments more dementia inclusive. Patient or Public Contributions: Dementia care scenarios used in this study were co-designed by experts with lived experience of dementia. Additionally, these experts along with family carers of people living with dementia were involved in the delivery of the training where appropriate.