Curricular initiatives for dementia education

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Social Work Education
• Dementia Care

Background:

• Dementia care requires knowledgeable and empathetic health professionals.
• Traditional education may not adequately prepare students for the complexities of dementia care.
• Innovative pedagogical approaches are needed to enhance student learning and practice readiness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based educational initiatives on social work students' perceptions of dementia.
• To assess improvements in dementia-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy among students.
• To explore student experiences and learning gains from dementia-focused educational activities.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of four educational initiatives: informational presentation, dementia simulation, virtual discussion board, and interviews with individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
• Pre- and post-participation surveys administered to 29 students measuring knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and willingness to support.
• Focus group discussions with 43 students and content analysis of discussion posts to explore learning experiences and themes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements observed in students' dementia-related knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy post-participation.
• Content analysis revealed cognitive and affective knowledge gains, positive shifts in attitudes toward dementia care practice, and appreciation for interprofessional collaboration.
• Students reported perceived value in the learning activities, despite some implementation limitations.

Conclusions:

• Evidence-based dementia education initiatives can effectively enhance social work students' preparedness for dementia care.
• The described curricular model provides a valuable template for training future health professionals in dementia care.
• Further research is warranted to refine and validate these educational approaches in diverse settings.