Dementia care boot camp: interprofessional education for healthcare students

ABSTRACT

Dementia prevalence is increasing exponentially and has a profound effect on individuals diagnosed as well as their family caregivers. Dementia care should be patient focused, not task or medically oriented. Patient-centered dementia care requires more staff time, is complex, and, as a result, financially threatens the healthcare system. Therefore, professionals must be prepared to meet the needs of this growing population. The aims of this mixed methods study were to examine the effect of a 16-h interprofessional program on healthcare students’ dementia knowledge, attitudes toward people with dementia, confidence for dementia care and empathy, and to understand the relationships among the listed variables. Nursing, occupational therapy assistant, pharmacy, and psychology students participated in a 16-h team-based learning Dementia Care Bootcamp. Students reported significant improvements in dementia attitudes and knowledge, confidence for dementia care and empathy immediately after Bootcamp and 3 months later. Significant relationships among listed variables were noted. Qualitative data complemented the quantitative findings. In addition, the concept of dementia care competency emerged. Students recognized the benefits of learning about, with and from others from diverse professions. Interprofessional education has great potential to improve students’ ability to care for people with dementia.

KEYWORDS:

• Mixed methods
• interprofessional education
• health and social care
• dementia care

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the following for their support of Dementia Care Bootcamp: Kathleen Wilson, Rose Guidry, Diane Brown, Luanne Harms, Don Kent and the family caregivers who shared their experiences.

Declaration of Interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by a grant from The University of Texas at Tyler College of Nursing and Health Sciences’ Institute for Integrated Health.

Notes on contributors

Beth Mastel-Smith

Beth Mastel-Smith's professional interests include health promotion of older adults and caregivers.  She has delivered dementia education programs in the US and Asia and worked and volunteered with older adults in various settings.

Michelle Kimzey

Michelle Kimzey's professional and teaching interests focus on gerontology, dementia care and dementia education.

Jennifer Garner

Jennifer Garner, teaches Gerontology; her research interests include dementia care and dementia education.

Osama A. Shoair

Osama A. Shoair's teaching interests include biostatistics, clinical research design, pharmacoepidemiology and pharmacoeconomics; his research includes health economics and outcomes research.

Eric Stocks

Eric Stocks' research and professional interests include social emotions, social cognition, philosophy of science and research methods.

Takova Wallace

Takova Wallace's professional interests include primary care and patient education.  Her research focus is on pharmacist involvement in risk reduction and health literacy.