Developing an Instructional Design-Based Dementia Education Program.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Educational Psychology

Background:

• Creating a dementia-inclusive society requires robust community engagement.
• Traditional dementia education often lacks community-centered, mutual learning approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, implement, and evaluate a novel dementia education program co-designed with community members.
• To gain insights into effective community-based dementia education strategies.

Main Methods:

• A dementia education program was co-designed using instructional design principles and mutual learning.
• Eighty participants completed pre- and post-program questionnaires assessing attitudes toward dementia.
• Data analysis focused on pre-post score differences and identified key learning topics.

Main Results:

• A significant increase in mean total scores on the Attitudes Toward Dementia Scale was observed (32.1 pre-program vs. 33.7 post-program).
• Participants demonstrated enhanced empathy, personal relevance of dementia, and consideration for individuals with dementia's feelings.
• Nine essential learning topics for dementia education were identified.

Conclusions:

• Community-based dementia education programs can effectively improve attitudes and understanding.
• Scenario-based learning and visual aids enhance mutual learning and empathy in dementia education.
• Co-designing educational programs with community members is crucial for fostering dementia inclusion.