Consensus statement on dementia education and training in Europe.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the current statement is to agree on: (1) what is the current situation with education and training on dementia in Europe; (2) what are the minimum educational requirements for professionals (neurologists, psychiatrists, primary care providers, nurses, biologists, neuroradiologists, etc.) regarding Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and (3) how to start a course of action for the future.


METHODS
In 2005, a simple questionnaire was sent to members of the European Alzheimer's Disease Consortium (EADC) concerning the education and training on dementia in their countries. Fourteen universities of the respective countries responded to this simple questionnaire. The answers varied, and the conclusion of this effort was that little was done concerning the training of students and health professionals on dementia. In 2008, another more structured and specified questionnaire was sent to professors in different universities of the same countries.


RESULTS
The answers obtained were different from those of the previous questionnaire and demonstrated that it is very difficult to know about training and education in the field of dementia in every European country.


CONCLUSIONS
From the data collected, it seems that although in the recent past little had been done concerning training on dementia, nowadays training has been developed in most European countries, and relevant educational projects exist both for medical students and doctors during their specialty training. Our main purpose is to develop training material or develop specific courses to improve the professional knowledge about dementia so that best medical and non-medical practice is implemented.
Tsolaki
M
M
3rd Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Papaliagkas
V
V
Anogianakis
G
G
Bernabei
R
R
Emre
M
M
Frolich
L
L
Visser
P J
PJ
Michel
J P
JP
Pirttila
T
T
Olde Rikkert
M
M
Soininen
H
H
Sobow
T
T
Vellas
B
B
Verhey
F
F
Winblad
B
B
D003479:Curriculum; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D005060:Europe; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires