Benefits of attending a ‘Dementia First Aid’ course for family caregivers of people with early dementia: findings of a pilot evaluation

摘要

Objective: Pilot evaluation of the impact of a ‘Dementia First Aid’ (DFA) training course on the knowledge and attitude of family caregivers of people with early dementia. Methods: The participants in the study were primary family caregivers of people with dementia residing in northwest Hertfordshire. The 4-hour ‘Dementia First Aid’ course was delivered by NHS professionals. The training was organised once every second month from November 2015 till March 2017. The course provided overview of dementia and its impact on the person and their families, mindfulness based stress reduction, and the dementia first aid action plan for crises. The participants were asked to complete the Alzheimer’s disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) before and after the completion of the course & complete carer burden scale (Zarit Burden Scale). Participants were asked to complete the scales after six months. Results: The study sample comprised 65 people who had completed the DFA?course. All completed pre- and post-training measures (ADK and Zarit burden?scale), and a further 34 provided follow-up data approximately 6 months later.?The scores were compared using a correlated group t-test. ADK scores improved significantly immediately after attending the course (p 0.0001). For the subgroup that completed data at 6 months, the improvement in scores was sustained. Conclusions: This ‘Dementia First Aid’ course appears to be effective in improving family caregiver’s knowledge of dementia and this knowledge was sustained at 6 months follow up.