Evaluating the Effectiveness of Training in Improving Nurses' Level of Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Dementia Care...

The rapid epidemiological growth of dementia predisposes the urgent need to prepare nurses for a massive wave of hospitalised patients with dementia. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a modified nursing training programme by analysing nurses' acquired knowledge and attitudes towards dementia care.

A mixed-method study consisting of three stages. The first stage is a descriptive study to assess the level of knowledge and attitudes of medical and surgical nurses regarding the care of patients diagnosed with dementia (N = 416, RR = 88.5%). A convenience sampling method is applied, and the assessment is based on two questionnaires. In the second stage, we carry out an observational study of the care of 13 hospitalised patients with dementia. Over the course of 91 h, we observe care behaviours, identify nursing omissions and monitor the overall mood of dementia patients whilst in care. Based on the findings of the above two stages, we modify and deliver a training programme to two groups of nurses (intervention and control group n = 68) with one pre (T1) and two post-measurements (immediately after the programme termination: T2, three months post: T3). The study lasted 2 years, from 2018 to 2020.

The results of the descriptive stage detect predominantly low levels of knowledge (M = 12.8/21) and non-positive attitudes (99.06/140), while the observation reveal inappropriate caring behaviours. Regarding the training, the first measurements indicate a low level of knowledge (M = 11.64) and non-positive attitudes (M = 105.97). During T2, the results show an increase for both variables (knowledge M = 15.38, attitudes M = 110.72). The intervention group indicates higher scores at T3 (knowledge M = 16.25, attitudes M = 110.47) than the control group (knowledge M = 13.39, attitudes M = 103.03).

Nurses' low levels of knowledge and non-favourable attitudes greatly influence inappropriate care behaviours and nursing omissions. The modified training programme proves that those issues can be mitigated, enhancing the nursing practice.