Undergraduate Healthcare and Allied Professional Students Experience learning how to Manage Behavioral Symptoms in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Disciplines
Geriatric Nursing | Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Dementia, a progressive brain disorder, profoundly impacts memory, cognition, and behavior. As the condition advances, individuals often display challenging behaviors like wandering, posing significant care challenges. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in managing these behavioral symptoms and providing education and support to informal caregivers and families, facilitating effective management. Therefore, it's essential for healthcare programs to equip graduates with requisite knowledge and skills for optimal care provision.
Objective: To explore undergraduate healthcare and allied professional students' perceptions and experiences regarding learning to manage behavioral symptoms in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.
Methods: This research employs a secondary analysis of qualitative data gathered from an ongoing larger study investigating the use of gamified virtual reality in dementia care education. Participants eligible for this study are enrolled in undergraduate healthcare or allied programs, aged 18 or older, and have completed coursework focused on dementia care. Recruitment was conducted through advertisements in student organizations, flyers, and the social media platforms of the KSU College of Health and Human Services. Six consenting participants engage in a 90-minute focus group discussion after completing a brief socio-demographic survey. Thematic analysis is applied to examine the data.
Preliminary findings: Revealed three prominent themes: limited knowledge about behavioral symptoms, a lack of experiential learning opportunities, and perceived inadequate competency in managing these symptoms.
Conclusion: These themes offer insights into the challenges faced by students in acquiring skills related to behavioral symptoms management in dementia and highlight areas for educational enhancement.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
WCHHS - Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Modupe Adewuyi
Undergraduate Healthcare and Allied Professional Students Experience learning how to Manage Behavioral Symptoms in Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
Dementia, a progressive brain disorder, profoundly impacts memory, cognition, and behavior. As the condition advances, individuals often display challenging behaviors like wandering, posing significant care challenges. Healthcare professionals play a crucial role in managing these behavioral symptoms and providing education and support to informal caregivers and families, facilitating effective management. Therefore, it's essential for healthcare programs to equip graduates with requisite knowledge and skills for optimal care provision.
Objective: To explore undergraduate healthcare and allied professional students' perceptions and experiences regarding learning to manage behavioral symptoms in individuals with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia.
Methods: This research employs a secondary analysis of qualitative data gathered from an ongoing larger study investigating the use of gamified virtual reality in dementia care education. Participants eligible for this study are enrolled in undergraduate healthcare or allied programs, aged 18 or older, and have completed coursework focused on dementia care. Recruitment was conducted through advertisements in student organizations, flyers, and the social media platforms of the KSU College of Health and Human Services. Six consenting participants engage in a 90-minute focus group discussion after completing a brief socio-demographic survey. Thematic analysis is applied to examine the data.
Preliminary findings: Revealed three prominent themes: limited knowledge about behavioral symptoms, a lack of experiential learning opportunities, and perceived inadequate competency in managing these symptoms.
Conclusion: These themes offer insights into the challenges faced by students in acquiring skills related to behavioral symptoms management in dementia and highlight areas for educational enhancement.