Acute hospital staff�s attitudes towards dementia and perceived dementia knowledge: a cross-sectional survey in Ireland
Citation:
Brian Keogh, Wing Ting To, Louise Daly, Geralyn Hynes, Siobhan Kennelly, Brian Lawlor, Suzanne Timmons, Susan O�Reilly, Mairead Bracken-Scally, Aurelia Ciblis, Natalie Cole, Amanda Drury, Chiara Pittalis, Brendan Kennelly, Mary McCarron, Anne-Marie Brady, Acute hospital staff�s attitudes towards dementia and perceived dementia knowledge: a cross-sectional survey in Ireland, BMC Geriatrics, 20, 376, 2020Download Item:
Abstract:
R E S E A R C H A R T I C L E Open Access
Acute hospital staff’s attitudes towards
dementia and perceived dementia
knowledge: a cross-sectional survey in
Ireland
Brian Keogh 1*† , Wing Ting To1†, Louise Daly1 , Geralyn Hynes1
, Siobhan Kennelly 2
, Brian Lawlor 3
,
Suzanne Timmons 4
, Susan O’Reilly 5
, Mairead Bracken-Scally 6
, Aurelia Ciblis 1
, Natalie Cole7
, Amanda Drury 1
,
Chiara Pittalis 8
, Brendan Kennelly 9
, Mary McCarron 1 and Anne-Marie Brady 1
Abstract
Background: Little is known about staff’s attitudes in Irish acute hospital settings towards people living with
dementia and their perceived dementia knowledge. The aim of this study was to understand the general level of
dementia knowledge and attitudes towards dementia in different types of hospital staff, as well as to explore the
potential influence of previous dementia training and experience (having a family member with dementia) and the
potential moderating effects of personal characteristics. This data was required to plan and deliver general and
targeted educational interventions to raise awareness of dementia throughout the acute services.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among a diverse range of hospital staff (n = 1795) in three urban
acute general hospitals in Ireland, including doctors, nurses, healthcare attendants, allied professionals, and general
support staff. Participants’ perceived dementia knowledge and attitudes were assessed as well as their previous
dementia training and experience. To measure participant’s attitude towards dementia, the validated Approaches to
Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ) was used.
Results: Hospital staff demonstrated positive attitudes towards people living with dementia, and believed they had
a fair to moderate understanding of dementia. Both ‘having previous dementia training’ and ‘having a relative living
with dementia’ predicted attitude towards dementia and perceived dementia knowledge. Interestingly, certain
personal staff characteristics did impact dementia training in predicting attitude towards dementia and perceived
dementia knowledge.
Conclusion: This study provides a baseline of data regarding the attitudes towards dementia and perceived
dementia knowledge for hospital staff in Irish acute hospitals. The results can inform educational initiatives that
target different hospital staff, in order to increase awareness and knowledge to improve quality of dementia care in
Irish hospitals.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/keoghbjDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: Keogh, Brian
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections
Series/Report no:
BMC Geriatrics;20;
376;
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Dementia, Staff attitudes, Acute hospital, Dementia knowledge, Approaches to dementia questionnaireDOI:
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01783-6Metadata
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