Change of outlook on elderly persons with dementia: a study of trainees during a year of special education.
In 1996 the Silvia Home Foundation started a non-governmental education programme with an integrated day-care unit devoted to patients with dementia: Working chairwoman of the foundation is HM Queen Silvia of Sweden. This study aims to describe the trainees' changed outlook on elderly people with dementia during a year of special education. Data were collected by interviews, informal discussions and participant observations during the lessons. The investigation focused on two questions: the trainees' outlook on the patients and their outlook on the work with the patients. At the beginning of their education, the trainees looked at the patients from a staff's perspective. During their education, this was gradually toned down and they changed to a disease perspective, and eventually to a human dignity perspective. After initially seeing dementia patients as a homogeneous group, the trainees went on to see them as unique human beings. Their outlook on their work also changed, from being task-oriented to a more humanitarian approach.
Skog
M
M
NEUROTEC, Section of Geriatric, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Grafström
M
M
Negussie
B
B
Winblad
B
B
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004518:Education, Professional, Retraining / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education*; D011287:Prejudice; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires