Feasibility and Utility of Online Dementia Care Training for Hospital Staff: The CARES® Dementia-Friendly Hospital Program

Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017 Mar 1;10(2):58-65. doi: 10.3928/19404921-20170131-01. Epub 2017 Feb 2.

Abstract

The current project tested the feasibility and utility of the CARES® Dementia-Friendly Hospital™ (CDFH) program, a 4-module, online training program for nursing assistants (NAs) and allied hospital workers (AHWs) who provide care to individuals with dementia. A single group pretest/posttest design was used for 25 hospital NAs/AHWs, and quantitative and qualitative data were collected to determine whether NAs'/AHWs' knowledge of hospital-based dementia care significantly increased, and if CDFH was perceived as useful and acceptable. Dementia care knowledge increased significantly (p < 0.001). Open- and closed-ended data suggested that the delivery of online training to NAs/AHWs to enhance dementia care is feasible, useful, and efficient. Ongoing gaps in care exist for individuals with dementia in hospitals, and delivering robust training for NAs/AHWs may serve as an effective modality to enhance quality of dementia care in such settings. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(2):58-65.].

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction
  • Dementia / nursing*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Geriatric Nursing / standards*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Health Personnel / education*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*