Research led by the Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett University is being highlighted in a film Every Three Seconds which will be launched at the Alzheimer’s Disease International conference in Chicago today.
The film is part of a collaboration between ADI and ITN Productions. The Centre for Dementia Research at Leeds Beckett is one of just two UK research institutions to feature in the film which showcases international dementia research.
Every Three Seconds explores the support and research required for the future of dementia diagnosis, prevention and management, and tells the stories of the people who are vigorously working to encourage global action on dementia.
The programme focuses on research findings from the What Works research study, which was run by The Centre for Dementia Research led by Professor Claire Surr in the School of Health and Community Studies.
Speaking about the study, Professor Surr said: ‘Until recently there was no mandatory requirement for health and social care professionals (e.g,. nurses) to have any dementia specific training, despite the high prevalence of people with dementia using health and social care services – 1 in 4 patients on general hospital wards have dementia.
The ‘What Works’ research study was led by Professor Claire Surr of Leeds Beckett University.
‘The What Works study sought to understand how much and what type of dementia-related education and training is provided for people working in health and social care and what the key components needed are.’
Key ingredients for effective training that are incorporated into the audit tool include:
- Tailoring training to the service setting and staff group attending;
- Using face-to-face delivery methods with opportunity for interactive activities and group discussion;
- Inclusion of opportunities to apply learning within practice, or practice-based situations
- Having training that is at least 3.5 hours duration with even longer training showing greater benefits;
- Delivery by an experienced training facilitator
The findings of the study include recommendations about how to develop and deliver effective education and training in dementia. An audit tool and mapping document has been developed for training and education providers so that they can assess the quality of current education and training, and map to the Dementia Training Standards Framework.
Speaking about the audit tool, Professor Surr added: ‘To date care and training providers have had limited information about what to look for when designing or purchasing a dementia training programme. We hope the audit tool will provide individuals and organisations, with an evidence-based set of criteria that reflect good practice in the design and delivery of dementia training. This may lead to money being invested in programmes that are more likely to lead to successful outcomes.’
The audit tool has been adopted by HEE as its standard method for assessing training materials and packages it recommends through its dementia training website.
