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Perceptions and development needs of assistant practitioners supporting individuals with dementia
1Work-based Education Facilitator, University of Bolton.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|September 8, 2017
Summary
Assistant practitioners are competent in dementia care, but require better training and role clarity. Enhancing their education is crucial for improving dementia support and addressing rising healthcare costs.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Healthcare Workforce Development
- Dementia Care Education
Background:
- An estimated 850,000 people live with dementia in the UK, costing the NHS £26 billion annually, projected to treble in 30 years.
- Increasing competence of health and social care staff in dementia care is essential.
- Staff education is vital for improving knowledge and capability in supporting individuals with dementia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore assistant practitioners' preparedness for dementia care practice.
- To understand perceptions of confidence and competence in supporting individuals with dementia.
- To examine the assistant practitioner role in relation to workforce development.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative data collection through focus groups and questionnaires with 44 assistant practitioners.
- Thematic analysis of collected data.
- Case study of partnership working between a higher education institution and the workplace.
Main Results:
- Key themes identified were training, awareness, knowledge, and confidence in dementia care.
- Assistant practitioners reported competence in supporting individuals with dementia, despite some experiential gaps.
- Reluctance from doctors and nurses to delegate duties to assistant practitioners was observed, indicating role protection.
Conclusions:
- Partnership working between educational institutions and workplaces positively supports assistant practitioner learning and development.
- Addressing gaps in experience and clarifying roles can enhance assistant practitioner effectiveness in dementia care.
- Improved training and education are necessary to build capability and confidence in dementia care provision.
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