Dataset Information

Good Cop, Better Cop: Evaluation of a Geriatrics Training Program for Police.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:To develop, implement, and evaluate a training program in aging-related health for police officers. DESIGN:Cross-sectional. SETTING:Crisis intervention training program for police officers in San Francisco. PARTICIPANTS:Police officers attending one of five 2-hour trainings (N = 143). INTERVENTION:A lecture on aging-related health conditions pertinent to police work followed by three experiential trainings on how it feels to be "old." MEASUREMENTS:Participants evaluated the quality of the training and the likelihood that they would apply new knowledge to their work and rated their knowledge using a retrospective pre-post evaluation. In open-ended responses, participants reported work-related changes they anticipated making in response to the training. RESULTS:All 143 participants completed the evaluation. Eighty-four percent reported interacting with older adults at least monthly; 45% reported daily interactions. Participants rated the training quality at 4.6/5 and the likelihood they would apply new knowledge to their work at 4.4/5. Retrospective pre-post knowledge scores increased for all domains, including how to identify aging-related health conditions that can affect safety during police interactions (2.9/5 to 4.2/5; P < .001). In open-ended responses, participants anticipated having more empathy for and awareness of aging-related conditions and greater ability to provide older adults with appropriate community referrals. CONCLUSION:A brief training in aging-related health significantly increased police officers' self-reported knowledge and skills. Clinicians have an important opportunity to help enhance safe and effective community policing for older adults.

SUBMITTER: Brown RT

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5555774 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Good Cop, Better Cop: Evaluation of a Geriatrics Training Program for Police.

Brown Rebecca T RT Ahalt Cyrus C Rivera Josette J Stijacic Cenzer Irena I Wilhelm Angela A Williams Brie A BA

Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 20170424 8

<h4>Objectives</h4>To develop, implement, and evaluate a training program in aging-related health for police officers.<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional.<h4>Setting</h4>Crisis intervention training program for police officers in San Francisco.<h4>Participants</h4>Police officers attending one of five 2-hour trainings (N = 143).<h4>Intervention</h4>A lecture on aging-related health conditions pertinent to police work followed by three experiential trainings on how it feels to be "old."<h4>Measurement ...[more]

PMID: 28436006

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Dataset Information

Good Cop, Better Cop: Evaluation of a Geriatrics Training Program for Police.

Publications

Good Cop, Better Cop: Evaluation of a Geriatrics Training Program for Police.

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