TY - JOUR
T1 - Knowledge of Dementia Among the Australian Health Workforce
T2 - A National Online Survey
AU - Annear, Michael J.
N1 - Funding Information:
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4474-2543 Annear Michael J. 1 1 International Christian University, Mitaka, Japan Michael J. Annear, Department of Health and Physical Education, International Christian University, 3-10-2, Osawa 3-chome, Mitaka, 181-8585 Tokyo, Japan. Email: michael.annear@gmail.com 1 2020 39 1 62 73 11 6 2017 8 12 2017 13 12 2017 © The Author(s) 2018 2018 Southern Gerontological Society Dementia is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia. This research evaluated dementia knowledge and educational needs among the Australian health workforce. An online version of the validated Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) was administered with a random sample of 234 health professionals across eight Australian states. Respondents provided additional self-report data concerning dementia experiences, educational needs, and demographic information. Dementia knowledge deficiencies were identified concerning risk factors, prevalent typologies of the condition, and cognitive symptoms. Prior university education and dementia-specific training were predictive of significantly higher knowledge scores. Self-reported dementia education needs included nonpharmaceutical interventions for the behavioral and psychological symptoms and best-evidence care provision. Knowledge deficiencies among health workers suggest patients with dementia may not be receiving consistent, best-evidence care in Australia. The research findings will support the development of a targeted online dementia education intervention that aims to improve health worker knowledge and patient care. Alzheimer’s disease education professional typesetter ts1 Declaration of Conflicting Interests The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Funding The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research was supported by a Dementia Research Development Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Research Council (ARC) (Grant 1099245). ORCID iD Michael J. Annear https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4474-2543
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.
PY - 2020/1/1
Y1 - 2020/1/1
N2 - Dementia is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia. This research evaluated dementia knowledge and educational needs among the Australian health workforce. An online version of the validated Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) was administered with a random sample of 234 health professionals across eight Australian states. Respondents provided additional self-report data concerning dementia experiences, educational needs, and demographic information. Dementia knowledge deficiencies were identified concerning risk factors, prevalent typologies of the condition, and cognitive symptoms. Prior university education and dementia-specific training were predictive of significantly higher knowledge scores. Self-reported dementia education needs included nonpharmaceutical interventions for the behavioral and psychological symptoms and best-evidence care provision. Knowledge deficiencies among health workers suggest patients with dementia may not be receiving consistent, best-evidence care in Australia. The research findings will support the development of a targeted online dementia education intervention that aims to improve health worker knowledge and patient care.
AB - Dementia is a leading cause of death and disability in Australia. This research evaluated dementia knowledge and educational needs among the Australian health workforce. An online version of the validated Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS) was administered with a random sample of 234 health professionals across eight Australian states. Respondents provided additional self-report data concerning dementia experiences, educational needs, and demographic information. Dementia knowledge deficiencies were identified concerning risk factors, prevalent typologies of the condition, and cognitive symptoms. Prior university education and dementia-specific training were predictive of significantly higher knowledge scores. Self-reported dementia education needs included nonpharmaceutical interventions for the behavioral and psychological symptoms and best-evidence care provision. Knowledge deficiencies among health workers suggest patients with dementia may not be receiving consistent, best-evidence care in Australia. The research findings will support the development of a targeted online dementia education intervention that aims to improve health worker knowledge and patient care.
KW - Alzheimer’s disease
KW - education
KW - professional
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85048322971&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85048322971&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0733464817752085
DO - 10.1177/0733464817752085
M3 - Article
C2 - 29313420
AN - SCOPUS:85048322971
SN - 0733-4648
VL - 39
SP - 62
EP - 73
JO - Journal of Applied Gerontology
JF - Journal of Applied Gerontology
IS - 1
ER -