Evaluation of an inservice training program on dementia and wandering

This study assessed the impact of an inservice training program in four nursing homes on nursing staff's knowledge of dementia, pacing/wandering behavior and management strategies, staff satisfaction, and their perceptions of work difficulty and quality of care. Additionally, unit-level behavioral observations of agitated behavior and the nature of resident interactions with staff members and other residents were also performed to assess whether changes in nursing staff's knowledge impacted the residents or interactions with the residents. Analyses revealed that quiz scores were significantly improved immediately following the inservice program as compared to pretest but returned to near pretest levels at the 1-month follow-up. Additionally, nursing staff reported that residents were allowed to pace/wander to a greater extent at follow-up compared to pretest. Methods for improving the effectiveness of inservice training are discussed.