The relationship between dementia training, knowledge, attitudes, staff-strain and culture in hospital staff

Ahmed, Faraz and Morbey, Hazel and Harding, Andrew and Reeves, David and Holland, Fiona and Hann, Mark and Keady, John and Reilly, Siobhan (2019) The relationship between dementia training, knowledge, attitudes, staff-strain and culture in hospital staff. In: 29th Alzheimer Europe Conference - Making Valuable Connections, 2019-10-23 - 2019-10-25.

Abstract

Improving the quality of care in hospitals is a key priority within national dementia strategies. The impact of dementia training on multiple aspects of staff outcomes has seldom been evaluated, especially with regards to understanding the relationship between key interrelated factors within a hospital; e.g., dementia knowledge, staff attitudes, staff strain, organisational culture. We conducted a staff survey to explore the extent of training, knowledge, attitudes, staff strain, organisational culture and satisfaction in caring for people living with dementia in acute National Health Service (NHS) hospitals. We used a range of validated tools, i.e. Dementia Knowledge Assessment Tool V2, Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff scale, Culture of Care Barometer, Maslach Burnout Inventory. We identified and approached 24 randomly selected hospitals, based on low, ‘average’ or high scores in each of the domains of governance, patient-related outcomes and training, derived from 2016 National Audit of Dementia Organisational Checklist data. We recruited 11 hospitals (46%response rate) and 294 staff (average: 27 staff per hospital). The sample consisted of Nurses and Midwives (29.9%), Health Care Assistants (26.9%), Allied Health Professionals (16.0%), Medical and Dental doctors (11.6%), Support Staff and members of the wider health team (11.2%), general management (4.1%), and other (0.3%). This presentation covers the complex relationship between staff knowledge, attitudes, staff strain and organisational culture among acute NHS hospital staff, with a focus on dementia training. We will be presenting the results of a mixed effect model, which was adjusted for a range of staff related factors. Our findings indicate that the impact of dementia training on staff’s sense of competence in dementia care is limited, when we take into account staff demographics (including their professional background), and organisational culture. Our findings emphasise the need for broader practice and policy changes to support dementia training for hospital staff.