Time for Dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Time for Dementia: Evaluation of a novel multi-professional longitudinal clerkship in dementia.
IRAS ID
165491
Contact name
Sube Banerjee
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 3 months, 18 days
Research summary
Time for Dementia (TFD) is a programme to develop, deliver and evaluate an innovative educational initiative, a longitudinal clerkship (LC) in dementia to provide continuity of learning experience through ongoing longitudinal patient contact. In TFD we seek to use a LC to help students to develop an understanding of the emerging challenges presented by the ageing population, multi-morbidity and long-term conditions using dementia as an exemplar condition. Dementia causes irreversible decline in global intellectual, social and physical functioning. Over 800,000 people in the UK have dementia, and improving the care of people with dementia and their family carers is a national priority. TFD has been incorporated into the curricula for the cohort of nursing, paramedic and medical students starting their second year at Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and the first year at the University of Surrey (US) since September 2014. Students will visit an assigned patient and family every 3-4 months for 24 months. Students will visit in pairs for 2-4 hours and using a structured template for the visit. The project will run from January 2015 to March 2017. TFD has been approved by the curriculum management in both institutions and fits with the existing teaching structure.
Evaluation is a core element of the programme and the subject of this application. A mixed methods approach will be used to evaluate the impact of TDF on student knowledge, understanding, attitudes and behaviours towards dementia, people with long term conditions, and family carers. Students, patients and carers who consent to take part in the evaluation will complete interviews and/or focus groups and questionnaires on a yearly basis to assess the impact of the programme including their experiences and satisfaction. Data will be collected on patient quality of life and carer burden, alongside student empathy, knowledge and attitudes towards dementia.
REC name
London - Queen Square Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/LO/0046
Date of REC Opinion
28 Jan 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion