The development and evaluation of the DK-20: a knowledge of dementia measure

Shanahan, Niamh; Orrell, Martin; Schepers, A; Spector, Aimee

doi:10.1017/s1041610213001142

Cited by 35 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…Although dementia-specific training has been found to improve knowledge of dementia (Smyth et al, 2013), several studies have found that knowledge of dementia was not associated with a sense of competence in dementia care (Schepers et al, 2012;Shanahan, Orrell, Schepers, & Spector, 2013). An evaluation of a nurse aide education program to improve communication with patients with dementia found improved knowledge, but comfort and perceived skill did not improve (Beer, Hutchinson, & Skala-Cordes, 2012).These findings suggest that improving competence requires more than improving knowledge of dementia.…”

Section: Implications For Continuing Education Strategies and Future mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An evaluation of a nurse aide education program to improve communication with patients with dementia found improved knowledge, but comfort and perceived skill did not improve (Beer, Hutchinson, & Skala-Cordes, 2012).These findings suggest that improving competence requires more than improving knowledge of dementia. Shanahan et al (2013) offer the explanation that knowledge is more objective and fact-based, whereas competence is a subjective feeling of confidence, and that it is possible to know how to do something without feeling competent at it. There is growing recognition that sustained implementation of knowledge and skills gained from both entry-level and continuing education programs for healthcare providers caring for people with dementia must be accompanied by ongoing organizational support and embedded in organizational structures (McCormack et al, 2013;Smythe, Bentham, Jenkins, & Oyebode, 2015).…”

Section: Implications For Continuing Education Strategies and Future mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Dementia-related work activities of home care nurses and aides: Frequency, perceived competence, and continuing education priorities

Morgan

Kosteniuk

O’Connell

et al. 2015

Educational Gerontology

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Section: Implications For Continuing Education Strategies and Future mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications For Continuing Education Strategies and Future mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dementia-related work activities of home care nurses and aides: Frequency, perceived competence, and continuing education priorities

Morgan

Kosteniuk

O’Connell

et al. 2015

Educational Gerontology

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“…(c) Knowledge was measured using the Dementia Knowledge -20 scale. 115 This consists of 20 questions for which there are five possible answers. The scale has sufficient reliability and was administered at baseline and final follow-up only.…”

Section: Secondary Outcome Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To understand the level of dementia knowledge, the Dementia Knowledge -20 scale 115 was used at baseline and follow-up 2 only. Within the scale there are two subdomains, dementia core knowledge and DOI: 10.3310/pgfar05050 PROGRAMME GRANTS FOR APPLIED RESEARCH 2017 VOL.…”

Section: Secondary Outcome Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Support at Home: Interventions to Enhance Life in Dementia (SHIELD) – evidence, development and evaluation of complex interventions

Orrell

Hoe

Charlesworth

et al. 2017

Programme Grants Appl Res

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BackgroundDementia is a national priority and this research addresses the Prime Minister’s commitment to dementia research as demonstrated by his 2020 challenge and the new UK Dementia Research Institute. In the UK > 800,000 older people have dementia. It has a major impact on the lives of people with dementia themselves, on the lives of their family carers and on services, and costs the nation £26B per year. Pharmacological cures for dementias such as Alzheimer’s disease are not expected before 2025. If no cure can be found, the ageing demographic will result in 2 million people living with dementia by 2050. People with dementia lose much more than just their memory and their daily living skills; they can also lose their independence, their dignity and status, their confidence and morale, and their roles both within the family and beyond. They can be seen as a burden by society, by their families and even by themselves, and may feel unable to contribute to society. This programme of research aims to find useful interventions to improve the quality of life of people with dementia and their carers, and to better understand how people with dementia can be supported at home and avoid being admitted to hospital.Objectives(1) To develop and evaluate the maintenance cognitive stimulation therapy (MCST) for people with dementia; (2) to develop the Carer Supporter Programme (CSP), and to evaluate the CSP and Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today (RYCT) for people with dementia both separately and together in comparison with usual care; and (3) to develop a home treatment package (HTP) for dementia, to field test the HTP in practice and to conduct an exploratory trial.Methods(1) The MCST programme was developed for people with dementia based on evidence and qualitative work. A randomised controlled trial (RCT) [with a pilot study of MCST plus acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs)] compared MCST with cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) only. The MCST implementation study conducted a trial of outreach compared with usual care, and assessed implementation in practice. (2) The CSP was developed based on existing evidence and the engagement of carers of people with dementia. The RCT (with internal pilot) compared the CSP and reminiscence (RYCT), both separately and in combination, with usual care. (3) A HTP for dementia, including the most promising interventions and components, was developed by systematically reviewing the literature and qualitative studies including consensus approaches. The HTP for dementia was evaluated in practice by conducting in-depth field testing.Results(1) Continuing MCST improved quality of life and improved cognition for those taking AChEIs. It was also cost-effective. The CST implementation studies indicated that many staff will run CST groups following a 1-day training course, but that outreach support helps staff go on to run maintenance groups and may also improve staff sense of competence in dementia care. The study of CST in practice found no change in cognition or quality of life at 8-month follow-up. (2) The CSP/RYCT study found no benefits for family carers but improved quality of life for people with dementia. RYCT appeared beneficial for the quality of life of people with dementia but at an excessively high cost. (3) Case management for people with dementia reduces admissions to long-term care and reduces behavioural problems. In terms of managing crises, staff suggested more costly interventions, carers liked education and support, and people with dementia wanted family support, home adaptations and technology. The easy-to-use home treatment manual was feasible in practice to help staff working in crisis teams to prevent hospital admissions for people with dementia.LimitationsGiven constraints on time and funding, we were unable to compete the exploratory trial of the HTP package or to conduct an economic evaluation.Future researchTo improve the care of people with dementia experiencing crises, a large-scale clinical trial of the home treatment manual is needed.ConclusionThere is an urgent need for effective psychosocial interventions for dementia. MCST improved quality of life and was cost-effective, with benefits to cognition for those on AChEIs. MCST was feasible in practice. Both CSP and RYCT improved the quality of life of people with dementia, but the overall costs may be too high. The HTP was useful in practice but requires evaluation in a full trial. Dementia care research may improve the lives of millions of people across the world.Trial registrationsCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN26286067 (MCST), ISRCTN28793457 (MCST implementation) and ISRCTN37956201 (CSP/RYCT).FundingThis project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research programme and will be published in full inProgramme Grants for Applied Research; Vol. 5, No. 5. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

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“…Other, for example, occupational therapist or physiotherapist To enhance future evaluations of the training programme the 20-item dementia knowledge questionnaire DK-20 (Shanahan et al 2013) and the sense of competence in dementia care staff scale (Schepers et al 2012) will be used before and after each training course to assess whether knowledge of dementia has improved.…”

Section: %mentioning

confidence: 99%

Enabling hospital staff to care for people with dementia

Bray

Evans

Bruce

et al. 2015

Nursing Older People

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The development and evaluation of the DK-20: a knowledge of dementia measure

Abstract: The DK-20 is the first knowledge of dementia measure to be developed specifically for unqualified care staff and has reasonable psychometric properties. It may be used to identify gaps in knowledge, highlighting areas for inclusion in educational interventions.

Cited by 35 publications

References 22 publications

Dementia-related work activities of home care nurses and aides: Frequency, perceived competence, and continuing education priorities

Dementia-related work activities of home care nurses and aides: Frequency, perceived competence, and continuing education priorities

Support at Home: Interventions to Enhance Life in Dementia (SHIELD) – evidence, development and evaluation of complex interventions

Enabling hospital staff to care for people with dementia

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