Effectiveness of a training package for implementing a community-based occupational therapy program in dementia: a...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Occupational Therapy
• Public Health

Background:

• Community occupational therapy programs aim to support individuals with dementia and their caregivers.
• Implementing such programs requires effective therapist training and adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a comprehensive training package designed to enhance therapist adherence to the community occupational therapy program for dementia (COTiD).
• To assess the impact of the training on client and caregiver outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 94 occupational therapists across 45 service units.
• The intervention group received an enhanced training package, while the control group received a standard postgraduate course.
• Outcomes included therapist adherence (primary) and client functioning, caregiver competence, and quality of life (secondary).

Main Results:

• No significant differences in therapist adherence or client-caregiver outcomes were observed between the intervention and control groups at 12 months.
• Higher numbers of coaching sessions and baseline dementia knowledge in therapists correlated positively with adherence.
• Conversely, peer support and prior COTiD treatment experience correlated negatively with adherence.

Conclusions:

• The evaluated training package was ineffective in improving therapist adherence to the COTiD program and subsequent client-caregiver outcomes.
• Findings suggest that targeted interventions like coaching and knowledge enhancement are crucial for improving therapist engagement in dementia care programs.