Training Trainers in the Management of Older Persons with Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, education activities for the prevention and management of chronic health conditions needed to adapt to meet their learning objectives. Dementia is a chronic disease that is one of the contemporary epidemics in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Objective: To describe and analyse the impact of the design and results of "The Management of the Elderly with Dementia” Course of the Latin American Academy of Medicine of the Elderly (ALMA) remotely taught to teachers and specialists in geriatrics from various countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Methodology: A course focused on learning and competencies was designed, including two phases of synchronous and asynchronous activities. An evaluation strategy was designed to assess the level of learning and the teaching strategy itself.Results: Of the 120 university geriatrics professors who applied, 60 participants were selected, one of whom declined to participate before starting the course. On the course initiation, 89 participants from 20 countries included teachers (6 speakers, 12 advisors, and 12 tutors) and students (59). The participants were professors from 49 universities in LAC and 3 in Europe. A total of 57 (98.25%) students achieved a satisfactory grade, and 17 (29.8%) obtained an excellent grade. Only one student failed. No student dropped out from the course. Self-perception of learning was greater than 70%. The opinions regarding the evaluation of the design, teaching methodology, content quality, quality of teachers, and virtual learning environment were mainly "good and very good". Conclusions: The virtual course model implemented was successful and efficient and can be used for teaching the topic analysed or adjusted to another issue.