Evaluation of a Dementia Training Course for Staff of a Center of Dementia Care

Abstract

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Literature shows poor dementia training and competencies among health and social professionals. Due to the growing prevalence of people with dementia and all the related care demands, specialized training is increasingly needed but must be effective in terms of impact on knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes. We aimed to analyze the impact of a first-level dementia training course for staff of a new specialized center for people with dementia, considering the first three levels of Kirkpatrick’s evaluation framework, namely, staff reaction (satisfaction), skills and learning (knowledge and dementia attitudes), and behavior changes. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This is a single-center group pre-post design study of a 12-session online course. An online questionnaire was administered to measure satisfaction, expectations, knowledge/learning, attitudes (Dementia Attitude Scale), and new behaviors/practices. We compared perceived knowledge (Wilcoxon signed-rank test) and attitudes (paired <i>t</i> test). Thematic analysis explored new behaviors/practices. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Eighty-five professionals and 1 volunteer were included (median age 31, 92% female). Satisfaction with the training was high (median 4/5). Perceived knowledge improved (median 3–4; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). The knowledge test median score was 70.8%. After training, participants showed better attitudes toward dementia (mean 116.5, SD 10.3, to mean 122.2, SD 11.5; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Most (93%) said their behavior/practice changed. Thematic analysis yielded four new behavior/practice dimensions: care provision/interaction, communication, family/caregivers, and self-confidence. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The course improved all dimensions evaluated, suggesting it effectively provides first-level dementia training. This may be transferable to similar settings.