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Effect of a dementia education intervention on the confidence and attitudes of general practitioners in Australia: a pretest post-test study.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVES:This study assessed the impact of a Dementia Education Workshop on the confidence and attitudes of general practitioner (GP) registrars (GPR) and GP supervisors (GPS) in relation to the early diagnosis and management of dementia. DESIGN:Pretest post-test research design. SETTING:Continuing medical education in Australia. PARTICIPANTS:332 GPR and 114 GPS. INTERVENTIONS:Registrars participated in a 3-hour face-to-face workshop while supervisors participated in a 2-hour-modified version designed to assist with the education and supervision of registrars. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:The General Practitioners Confidence and Attitude Scale for Dementia was used to assess overall confidence, attitude to care and engagement. A t-test for paired samples was used to identify differences from preworkshop (T1) to postworkshop (T2) for each GP group. A t-test for independent samples was undertaken to ascertain differences between each workshop group. A Cohen's d was calculated to measure the effect size of any difference between T1 and T2 scores. RESULTS:Significant increases in scores were recorded for Confidence in Clinical Abilities, Attitude to Care and Engagement between pretest and post-test periods. GPR exhibited the greatest increase in scores for Confidence in Clinical Abilities and Engagement. CONCLUSIONS:Targeted educational interventions can improve attitude, increase confidence and reduce negative attitudes towards engagement of participating GPs.

SUBMITTER: Mason R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7044934 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Effect of a dementia education intervention on the confidence and attitudes of general practitioners in Australia: a pretest post-test study.

Mason Ron R Doherty Kathleen K Eccleston Claire C Winbolt Margaret M Long Marita M Robinson Andrew A

BMJ open 20200126 1

<h4>Objectives</h4>This study assessed the impact of a Dementia Education Workshop on the confidence and attitudes of general practitioner (GP) registrars (GPR) and GP supervisors (GPS) in relation to the early diagnosis and management of dementia.<h4>Design</h4>Pretest post-test research design.<h4>Setting</h4>Continuing medical education in Australia.<h4>Participants</h4>332 GPR and 114 GPS.<h4>Interventions</h4>Registrars participated in a 3-hour face-to-face workshop while supervisors partic ...[more]

PMID: 31988229

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Project description:ObjectivesTo assess improvements in dementia knowledge among general practitioner (GP) registrars and supervisors following their participation in dementia workshops.DesignPre-post intervention study.SettingGeneral practice education in Australia.Participants296 GP registrars and 91 GP supervisors.InterventionsRegistrars participated in a 3-hour face-to-face workshop on diagnosing and managing dementia. Supervisors participated in a 2-hour modified version of the workshop designed to support them in teaching registrars.Main outcome measuresThe Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) was used to assess overall dementia knowledge as well as knowledge on four subscales (causes and characteristics; communication and behaviour; care considerations; risks and health promotion). Changes in mean scores and the proportion of participants obtaining a threshold score (90th percentile score preworkshop) were used as measures of improvement.ResultsFew registrars and supervisors identified previous experience of formal dementia education. At baseline, mean dementia knowledge scores were 36 for registrars and 37 for supervisors of a total score of 50. Both groups had significantly improved overall dementia knowledge following the workshop with a mean score of 43. Improvements in knowledge were observed for all four DKAS subscales. Between preworkshop and postworkshop periods, there was an increase in the proportion of registrars and supervisors obtaining the threshold score for total DKAS as well as the four subscales. A significantly higher proportion of registrars compared with supervisors obtained the threshold score postworkshop in the areas of causes and characteristics and risks and health promotion.ConclusionsPrior to the workshop, no differences in overall dementia knowledge were observed between registrars and supervisors. While knowledge improved in all areas for both groups postworkshop, findings from this study suggest the need to include foundational content such as the causes and characteristics of dementia in educational workshops for both trainee and experienced GPs.

Project description:BackgroundPain in people with dementia is underdiagnosed and undertreated. General practitioners (GPs) play a pivotal role in dementia care but their perspectives on pain in people with dementia remains under-researched. The aim of this study was to explore GPs' knowledge and attitudes towards pain assessment and management in people with dementia.MethodsThis was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was adapted from a previous study and piloted with 5 GPs. The questionnaire was posted to a census sample of all GPs in Cork city and county in the southern region of Ireland. The questionnaire collected demographic information, responses to a series of Likert-type statements assessing GPs' knowledge and attitudes, and provided an opportunity for the GP to give qualitative feedback on their experiences of managing pain in dementia. SPSS v25 was used for statistical analysis. Qualitative responses were thematically analysed.ResultsOf the 320 questionnaires posted, 157 completed questionnaires were returned (response rate of 49%). The sample was representative of GPs nationally in terms of years in GP practice and practice location. Over two-thirds (108/157) of respondents had a nursing home commitment. Only 10% of respondents (16/157) were aware of any dementia-specific pain assessment tools. The larger the nursing home commitment of the GP the more likely they were to be familiar with these tools (p = 0.048). The majority of respondents (113/157) believed people with dementia could not self-report pain. Respondents were uncertain about the safety of using opioid medications to treat pain in people with dementia with only 51.6% agreeing that they were safe. The qualitative comments highlighted the importance the GPs placed on surrogate reports of pain, GPs' uncertainty regarding the value of formal pain assessment tools and the challenges caused by under-resourcing in general practice.ConclusionThis study has highlighted aspects of pain assessment and management in dementia that GPs find challenging. Guidance on pain assessment and management in people with dementia do not appear to be translating into clinical practice. The findings will inform educational interventions being developed by our research team as part of the implementation of the Irish national dementia strategy. The knowledge and attitudes of general practitioners to the assessment and management of pain in people with dementia.

Project description:BackgroundDementia is under-diagnosed in primary care. Timely diagnosis and care management improve outcomes for patients and caregivers. This research evaluated the effectiveness of a nationwide Continuing Medical Education (CME) program to enhance dementia-related awareness, practice, knowledge and confidence of general practitioners (GPs) in Australia.MethodsData were collected from self-report surveys by GPs who participated in an accredited CME program face-to-face or online; program evaluations from GPs; and process evaluations from workshop facilitators. CME participants completed surveys at one or more time-points (pre-, post-program, six to 9 months follow-up) between 2015 and 2017. Paired samples t-test was used to determine difference in mean outcome scores (self-reported change in awareness, knowledge, confidence, practice) between time-points. Multivariable regression analyses were used to investigate associations between respondent characteristics and key variables. Qualitative feedback was analysed thematically.ResultsOf 1352 GPs who completed a survey at one or more time-points (pre: 1303; post: 1017; follow-up: 138), mean scores increased between pre-CME and post-program for awareness (Mpost-pre = 0.9, p < 0.0005), practice-related items (Mpost-pre = 1.3, p < 0.0005), knowledge (Mpost-pre = 2.2, p < 0.0005), confidence (Mpost-pre = 2.1, p < 0.0005). Significant increases were seen in all four outcomes for GPs who completed these surveys at both pre- and follow-up time-points. Male participants and those who had practised for five or more years showed greater change in knowledge and confidence. Age, years in practice, and education delivery method significantly predicted post-program knowledge and confidence. Most respondents who completed additional program evaluations (> 90%) rated the training as relevant to their practice. These participants, and facilitators who completed process evaluations, suggested adding more content addressing patient capacity and legal issues, locality-specific specialist and support services, case studies and videos to illustrate concepts.ConclusionsThe sustainability of change in key elements relating to health professionals' dementia awareness, knowledge and confidence indicated that dementia CME programs may contribute to improving capacity to provide timely dementia diagnosis and management in general practice. Low follow-up response rates warrant cautious interpretation of results. Dementia CME should be adopted in other contexts and updated as more research becomes available.

Dataset Information

Effect of a dementia education intervention on the confidence and attitudes of general practitioners in Australia: a pretest post-test study.

Publications

Effect of a dementia education intervention on the confidence and attitudes of general practitioners in Australia: a pretest post-test study.

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