Primary Care Provider Preferences on Dementia Training: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Medical Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Dementia care requires early detection and management, with primary care providers (PCPs) playing a pivotal role.
• PCPs face barriers, including time constraints and knowledge gaps, hindering the implementation of evidence-based dementia care.
• Targeted training for PCPs is essential to overcome these challenges and improve dementia care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the specific preferences of primary care providers (PCPs) regarding dementia care training programs.
• To identify key factors influencing PCP engagement with dementia care education.
• To gather insights for developing effective and accessible dementia care training for PCPs.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interviews were conducted with 23 PCPs recruited nationally.
• Snowball sampling was utilized for participant recruitment.
• Thematic analysis was applied to interview transcripts to identify patterns and themes in PCP preferences.

Main Results:

• PCP preferences for dementia care training (Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias - ADRD) demonstrated significant variability.
• Key areas of varied preferences included optimal training content, necessary support materials for PCPs and families, training duration, scheduling, and delivery methods (remote vs. in-person).
• Understanding these diverse preferences is vital for designing effective training interventions.

Conclusions:

• The findings provide valuable recommendations for designing and improving dementia care training programs for PCPs.
• Optimizing training based on PCP preferences can enhance program implementation and success.
• This approach can ultimately lead to better dementia care outcomes for patients and their families.