Preparing future health care workers for interactions with people with dementia: A mixed methods study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Gerontology
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Traditional training for health professionals is evolving, incorporating sensitivity training to enhance patient compassion.
• Alzheimer's disease (AD) sensitivity training often involves deficit-focused dementia tours, which can physically alter sensations.
• Assessing novel delivery formats for dementia sensitivity training is crucial for effective health professional education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate virtual reality (VR) as a delivery format for dementia tours compared to physically altering sensations.
• To compare deficit-focused dementia sensitivity training with strengths-focused case studies.
• To assess the impact of different training methods on empathy, attitudes towards AD, and caregiving preparedness.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods study with 41 university students randomized into three conditions: VR dementia tour, physical dementia tour, or strengths-focused case study reading.
• Participants completed pre- and post-assessments and were interviewed.
• Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to evaluate training effectiveness.

Main Results:

• VR dementia tours were as effective as physical tours in improving attitudes and empathy.
• Participants in the case study group reported better attitudes towards living with AD and felt more prepared for caregiving compared to the tour groups.
• All conditions led to an increase in empathy among participants.

Conclusions:

• Dementia tours, whether delivered via VR or physical simulation, effectively foster empathy in future healthcare workers.
• Both deficit-focused (tours) and strengths-based (case studies) sensitivity training approaches are valuable components in educating future health professionals.
• Integrating diverse training methods is essential for comprehensive preparation in geriatric care and Alzheimer's disease education.