title: An internet-based multimedia education prototype to enhance late-stage dementia care: formative research results.
abstract: The goal of this project was to develop a portable, Internet-based multimedia education program (IBME) to provide a more efficient training resource for direct care workers (DCWs) who care for nursing home residents suffering from late-stage dementia. Thirty-four DCWs from 8 nursing homes in 8 states completed 5 posttest open-ended questions and 20 Likert items on the feasibility, strengths, and weaknesses of the IBME prototype. Pre- and post-test surveys also examined whether late-stage dementia care knowledge changed significantly. More than 90% of DCWs "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the IBME prototype improved DCWs' feelings of competency and everyday care delivery. Open-ended comments offered several suggestions for improvement, including group-based discussion of the modules. Results also indicate that DCWs' late-stage dementia care knowledge significantly increased (P < .001) following completion of the IBME modules. The IBME prototype offers an online, asynchronous training strategy to enhance dementia-pertinent knowledge and skills related to everyday care delivery in nursing homes.
authors.affiliation: HealthCare Interactive, Edina, MN, USA.
authors.forename: John V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Hobday
authors.forename: Kay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Savik
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Gaugler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged