Barriers and facilitators to implementing a longitudinal dementia education programme into undergraduate healthcare curricula: a qualitative study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12909-021-02632-9
• Publication Date: 2021-04-09T11:03:31Z
• Authors: Yvonne Feeney; Stephanie Daley; Breda Flaherty; Sube Banerjee
• Keywords: Thematic Analysis

As the numbers of people with dementia worldwide rises, there is a need for improved knowledge and awareness about condition across healthcare workforce. There are concerns that traditional models education, which focus on short-term episodes care, limit student understanding long-term conditions. We therefore designed delivered Time Dementia programme at five Universities in UK. Through longitudinal contact families living dementia, students gain increased experiences dementia. However, implementing new educational brings challenges. To enable implementation similar programmes other institutions, this study aimed to identify common barriers facilitators these types scale.To understand programme, qualitative was completed. Between October December 2018, twelve in-depth semi-structured interviews were completed university teaching staff (n = 6), administrators 4), Alzheimer's Society 2) had key responsibilities Dementia. Interview questions explored participants experiences, facilitators, challenges encountered when programme. Interviews audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, analysed using inductive thematic analysis.The analysis identified themes: "Leadership characteristics", "Organisational buy-in", "Perceived value motivating factors", "Team coalition support", "Time fit". Implementation enhanced by resilient leaders managing curricular change. Their belief stakeholder buy-in, supportive team working enabled be overcome. Workload reduced buy-in as time progressed more resources became available. A flexible approach recommended ensure fits within established curriculum.Curricular change challenging task, yet necessary, if we improve care long term conditions such This highlights experienced scale. The findings presented can used institutions manage efforts.