Workshops on diagnosis and management of dementia for general practitioners: a pre–post intervention study of dementia knowledge

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess improvements in dementia knowledge among general practitioner (GP) registrars and supervisors following their participation in dementia workshops.DesignPre–post intervention study.SettingGeneral practice education in Australia.Participants296 GP registrars and 91 GP supervisors.InterventionsRegistrars participated in a 3-hour face-to-face workshop on diagnosing and managing dementia. Supervisors participated in a 2-hour modified version of the workshop designed to support them in teaching registrars.Main outcome measuresThe Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) was used to assess overall dementia knowledge as well as knowledge on four subscales (causes and characteristics; communication and behaviour; care considerations; risks and health promotion). Changes in mean scores and the proportion of participants obtaining a threshold score (90th percentile score preworkshop) were used as measures of improvement.ResultsFew registrars and supervisors identified previous experience of formal dementia education. At baseline, mean dementia knowledge scores were 36 for registrars and 37 for supervisors of a total score of 50. Both groups had significantly improved overall dementia knowledge following the workshop with a mean score of 43. Improvements in knowledge were observed for all four DKAS subscales. Between preworkshop and postworkshop periods, there was an increase in the proportion of registrars and supervisors obtaining the threshold score for total DKAS as well as the four subscales. A significantly higher proportion of registrars compared with supervisors obtained the threshold score postworkshop in the areas of causes and characteristics and risks and health promotion.ConclusionsPrior to the workshop, no differences in overall dementia knowledge were observed between registrars and supervisors. While knowledge improved in all areas for both groups postworkshop, findings from this study suggest the need to include foundational content such as the causes and characteristics of dementia in educational workshops for both trainee and experienced GPs.

GP awareness, practice, knowledge and confidence: evaluation of the first nation-wide dementia-focused continuing medical education program in Australia

“…Registrars also participated in the shorter, overview workshop rather than the longer, 40-point CME workshop and this may have contributed in part to observed differences in age and experience effects. However, in a similar recent evaluation of dementia education, GP registrars selfreported pre-workshop levels of dementia knowledge were comparable to those of their more experienced supervisors [59].…”

“…Scales exist to measure GP dementia knowledge and awareness [59,63,64]. The aim of this study was to provide a tailored assessment of the efficacy of educational training provided to GPs in the first nation-wide CME dementia education program in Australia.…”

Effect of a dementia education intervention on the confidence and attitudes of general practitioners in Australia: a pretest post-test study

“…The GPR workshop consists of a 3-hour faceto-face presentation delivered by medical educators focusing on (1) recognising and diagnosing dementia and (2) managing dementia in general practice. The supervisors' workshop, also conducted face to face and for similar durations, is a modified version of that delivered to registrars in that it seeks to support supervisors to teach registrars the diagnosis and management content provided in the registrar programme (see Tierney et al 34 ), with a more in-depth coverage of some aspects of dementia diagnosis and management in the registrars' workshop than in the supervisors workshop.…”

“…Tailored training workshops were developed specifically to augment this interaction and address dementia specific training needs. Directed at both supervisors and GPRs, we have previously shown them to be effective in improving dementia knowledge 34. Here, we examine the impact of these workshops on attitudes and confidence towards dementia with a view to improving management of dementia in general practice.…”

Authors’ Reply to: Comment on “Facebook as a Novel Tool for Continuous Professional Education on Dementia: Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial”

“…We believe that it is important to explore different effects of the intervention on participants’ own provision of care. Therefore, we focused on measuring the knowledge relevant for the practical care of people with dementia rather than a high level of scientific knowledge related to dementia [ 3 ].…”