Effects of the dementia care toolbox on personnel’s self-reported confidence in patient care: a CRT in general practices

BMC Family Practice

Birgitta Weltermann¹  Anna-Liesa Filbert¹  Sabine Christine Jäger¹  Thomas Welchowski² 

[1] Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany;Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany;Institute of Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany;

关键词: Dementia care;    Dementia;    General practitioners;    Self-reported confidence in primary care;    Intervention;    Migration background;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12875-021-01577-8

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn rapidly aging populations, general practitioners (GPs) are challenged in dementia care of patients with and without migration background. Uncertainties in treating dementia in migrant patients due to language barriers or information deficits are reported. To address these deficits, we developed the Dementia Care Toolbox which was judged helpful by GP practice personnel. This two-armed cluster-randomised trial (CRT) investigated the effects of this toolbox on German GPs’ and practice assistants’ (PrAs) attitudes and confidence in dementia care, especially in patients with migration background.MethodsA total of 32 GP practices were recruited and randomised into intervention (toolbox use for 3 months) and waiting-list control (toolbox after follow-up). After 3 months all participating GPs and PrAs received a standardised questionnaire addressing their levels of self-reported confidence in dementia care for patients with and without migration background. A generalized estimating equation model that took practice cluster effects into account was applied to assess GPs and PrAs self-reported confidence in dementia care in patients with and without migration background.ResultsOverall, the intervention had no significant effect on self-reported confidence in dementia care. However, the use of the dementia care toolbox showed a tendency for a learning effect on knowledge about local support structures formigrant patients with dementia (odds ratio 1.43; 95% CI 0.68-3.03, p = 0.35) and for less communication difficulties with dementia patients in general (odds ratio 0.72; 95% CI 0.33-1.56; p = 0.40). Moreover, intervention practices showed a tendency towards more awareness of own limitations: less self-confidence regarding answering questions (odds ratio 0.82; 95% CI 0.36-1.86, p = 0.64) and providing information for patients with migration background (odds ratio 0.60; 95% CI 0.25-1.45, p = 0.26).ConclusionThe Toolbox Dementia Care increased awareness on the respective topic. Given a small sample size, further studies on its effectiveness in primary care are needed.Trial registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00014632. Registered 02/08/2018.

【 授权许可】

CC BY