Effect of Dementia First Aid course on carers' knowledge & competence
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effectiveness of Dementia First Aid course on carers' knowledge of dementia: a feasibility study
IRAS ID
138519
Contact name
Arun Jha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 17 days
Research summary
Family caregivers, especially spouses of people with dementia, are stressed and more likely to suffer anxiety & depression. Current interventions for family caregivers usually focus on improving knowledge and practical skills of providing dementia care and less on caregivers stress. There is a need for new evidence based training programme suitable for spouses and family carers of people with newly diagnosed dementia as part of routine post-diagnostic support. This is in line with the forthcoming Carers Act in April 2015. To address this training need, we have developed a new training programme, called ‘Dementia First Aid’ (DFA) course for family carers in Hertfordshire.
The DFA Course consists of an overview of dementia, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), Dementia First Aid Action Plan, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. The DFA Action Plan is a structured response to BPSD, and it consists of four actions – a) Face the situation with care and compassion, b) Assess the risk and assist in crisis, c) Counsel the person, and d) Engage the person in pleasurable activities and seek help if necessary. The initial letters of these actions constitute the mnemonic FACE. Carers are also made aware of the stress associated with caring and trained in mindfulness based stress reduction using a 15-minute long guided mindfulness meditation CD. They are requested to practice the mindfulness meditation for 15 minutes twice a day every day.
Each participant receives a DFA course manual prepared by the primary applicant (AJ).
The preliminary evaluation using Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS, consisting of 30 items) has found the DFA course to be helpful in enhancing carers’ knowledge of dementia.
REC name
East of England - Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/EE/0171
Date of REC Opinion
18 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion