Developing the evidence base for evaluating dementia training in NHS hospitals (DEMTRAIN): a mixed-methods study...

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Older adults, particularly those with dementia, occupy a significant portion of acute hospital beds.
• Improving the quality of care for dementia patients in hospitals is a national priority.
• Existing research on the effectiveness of dementia training for healthcare staff is limited, with evaluations often focusing on short-term feedback.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between variations in dementia training (content, implementation, intensity) and health service/staff outcomes in English acute hospitals.
• To identify specific components of dementia training most effective in improving patient and staff outcomes.
• To explore the facilitators and barriers to successful dementia training implementation in hospital settings.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method study employing programme theory to understand training mechanisms.
• Utilizing existing data (e.g., Hospital Episode Statistics) and conducting hospital- and staff-level surveys.
• Recruiting up to 193 acute hospitals for surveys, with in-depth case studies in six hospitals and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Main Results:

• Analysis of how training variations relate to health service process measures and staff outcomes.
• Identification of key training components associated with improved patient and staff well-being.
• Understanding of the economic impact and cost-effectiveness of different dementia training packages.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based recommendations for optimizing dementia training content and delivery in acute care.
• Strategies to enhance the quality of care for dementia patients in hospitals.
• Dissemination of findings through academic, public, and online platforms to inform practice and policy.