title: Interprofessional education in community-based Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment.
abstract: As the population ages and understanding of Alzheimer's disease (AD) improves, the number of older adults diagnosed and treated for AD and related dementias is projected to increase. Dementia diagnosis, treatment and patient and family education are complex processes best done through collaboration among healthcare professions. The educational program described in this article aimed to create an interprofessional team approach to the diagnosis and treatment of dementia involving medical and family nurse practitioner students. A two-group treatment/control pretest posttest design was used to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes and appreciation for an interprofessional team approach to patient care. Findings from this interprofessional program demonstrated that nurse practitioner students gained higher levels of knowledge regarding AD, and medical students gained more positive attitudes toward these patients and their caregivers. Comments from students indicated that both medical and nursing students found the experience valuable. Understanding the roles that various providers play will help healthcare professional meet the challenge of caring for the increasing number of patients with memory loss and for their families.
authors.affiliation: Florida Atlantic University, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing , Boca Raton , USA .
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McCaffrey
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tappen
authors.forename: Daniel M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Lichtstein
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Friedland
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003153:Community Health Services; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D013337:Students, Medical