Improving clinicians' self-efficacy in delivering a diagnosis of dementia: A before-after study

There is evidence that clinicians' practice regarding the delivery of dementia diagnoses varies in style and fluctuates in quality, even among highly experienced staff working in a specialist dementia clinic. This variation in quality may be minimised through better adherence to available guidelines.

We designed and evaluated a workshop to improve clinicians' self-efficacy in delivering a diagnosis of dementia during feedback sessions. The 3-h workshop content was based on published guidelines for clinicians and included didactic material and opportunities to reflect on current practice and to critique the practices of clinician actors depicted in videos.

Thirty clinicians from two dementia clinics participated in the workshops. Clinicians' self-efficacy improved from pre- to postintervention and again from postintervention to a follow-up 4 months later. Improvements in self-efficacy were especially notable in non-medical personnel. Clinicians identified finding ways to provide hope as the area in which their practice changed most.

Clinicians should be provided with guidelines on best practice in delivering a dementia diagnosis and be given more opportunities to reflect on their practice in doing so.