title: Evaluation of 'Dementia Friends' programme for undergraduate nursing students: Innovative practice.
abstract: The 'dementia friends' programme was launched by the Alzheimer's Society in the UK two years ago with the purpose of educating members of the public about the things they can do which can enhance the lives of people living with dementia. The aim of this project was to deliver a two-hour 'Dementia Friendly Community Workshop' written by the Alzheimer's Society, to an entire cohort of first-year undergraduate nursing students in one Higher Education Institutions in Northern Ireland. Following delivery of the programme, students were asked to complete a short questionnaire on their knowledge and confidence in relation to dementia care before and after the Dementia Friendly Community programme. A total of 322 undergraduate first-year nursing students took part in the Dementia Friendly Community programme. Of these, 304 returned questionnaires; 31.25% of students stated their perceived improvement in dementia knowledge was 'good' while 49.01% stated their perceived improvement in dementia knowledge was 'very good' and 13.49% stated their perceived improvement in dementia knowledge was 'excellent'. In relation to confidence in engaging with people with dementia, 31.91% stated 'good' improvement, 40.79% stated 'very good' improvement and 11.84% stated 'excellent' improvement. The Dementia Friendly Community programme was positively reviewed by the undergraduate students as it enhanced knowledge and confidence in relation to care of someone living with dementia.
authors.affiliation: Four Seasons Health Care, Dementia Services, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Gary
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Four Seasons Health Care, Dementia Services, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Jessie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGreevy
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Belfast, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carlisle
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer's Society, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Frazer
authors.affiliation: Queen's University Belfast, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Traynor
authors.affiliation: Alzheimer's Society, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lundy
authors.affiliation: Four Seasons Health Care, Dementia Services, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.affiliation: Four Seasons Health Care, Dementia Services, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Agnelli
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009660:Northern Ireland; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; dementia; dementia-friends; education; nursing