- Email: [email protected]
Impact of participation in TimeSlips, a creative group-based storytelling program, on medical student attitudes towards persons with dementia: a mixed methods evaluation
Poster Presentations P3 a manual that shows effective ways to use Paro was developed in the previous research. In this study, we evaluate the manual’s efficacy in fields test. Methods: Caregivers were asked to conduct robot therapy freely before reading the manual. The therapy was conducted three times in order to become familiar with robot therapy. The fourth time, we observed the caregiver’s behaviors and the participants’ reactions during the robot therapy. The behaviors and their reactions were measured once per min using an observation sheet. After that, we gave the manual to the caregiver and briefly explained its contents. The caregiver was asked to read the manual and conduct robot therapy three more times according to the manual. The behaviors and participants’ reactions were observed again in the same way. Results: The fields test was conducted in two elderly facilities. The subjects were 7 caregivers (Male: 7, Female: 4, avg. age: 30.3) and 7 elderly people (Female: 7, avg. age: 85.7, had symptoms of dementia). Occurrence rate of their each behavior was analyzed because elderly people’s time of participation in robot therapy was slightly different. As the results, occurrence rates of elderly people’s smile during the therapy were significantly high than those before therapy, in both condition (before/after reading the manual). Especially, occurrence rate of the smile during the therapy was increased after the caregivers read the manual in comparison with the before reading. Conclusions: In this study, we conducted field test to evaluate the efficacy of the manual in two elderly facilities. The results showed the manual improved the caregiver’s skills and achieved better therapy. However, current version of the manual doesn’t support specific methods depending on the individual symptoms. We will further improvement of the manual and conduct field test to evaluate its efficacy.
P3-379
S637
findings, while also revealing insights into the manner in which student attitudes toward a geriatric patient population became more positive. Conclusions: While previous research has demonstrated that medical student perceptions of geriatric patients may be improved through non-clinical experiences, this is the first known empirical study to suggest that participation in a creative, group-based storytelling program might improve medical student attitudes towards this patient population. P3-380
EXPLORING LIFE HISTORY COLLAGE EXPOSURE ON PERSONHOOD AND PERSONCENTERED NURSING HOME DEMENTIA CARE
Bill Buron, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. Background: In the nursing home (NH) environment residents living with dementia (RLWD) struggle with maintaining personhood (or identity) when faced with progressive cognitive and communication declines. The purpose of this pilot study is to test the efficacy of an innovative Personhood Advancement Liaison System (PALS), designed to enhance the personhood of RLWD and the nursing assistants (NAs) who care for them. PALS consists of educating staff and residents/families about each other through exposure to individualized Life History Collages, and other activities to promote individualized care. The specific aims are to examine the efficacy of PALS in improving 1) NA a) knowledge of RLWD, b) perceptions of relationship quality with RLWD, c) job satisfaction, d) attitudes toward RLWD, and 2) indicators of care quality for RLWD. Methods: An experimental, quantitative Solomon Four-Group Design will be used to measure the effects of PALS on 32 NAs (16 intervention/16 control), and 6 RLWD (3 intervention/3 control). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be used to compare the effect of PALS on mean outcome levels post-test, and 3 weeks post-intervention, controlling for pre-intervention levels. Two qualitative focus group sessions with intervention NAs, 3 weeks post-intervention, will expand on quantitative findings, and will be analyzed using content analysis. Results: The data generated will inform the preparation of an National Institutes of Health (NIH) K23 proposal for continuing exploration of PAL’s impact on personhood, relationships, and quality of daily life among this unique and disadvantaged population of NH residents. Conclusions: While there is growing evidence that interventions can be effective at increasing NA knowledge about RLWD, more research is needed on the effects of increased knowledge on relationships, job satisfaction, and resident care outcomes in the existing NH milieu of high staff turnover and multicultural staffing. Improved relationships may reduce NA turnover, a proposed outcome in a larger follow-up study. Even small reductions in turnover can improve resident care and lead to tremendous cost savings. The potential impact of this intervention is particularly exciting because of its low cost and simplistic design that can be easily replicated in other NHs.
IMPACT OF PARTICIPATION IN TIMESLIPS, A CREATIVE GROUP-BASED STORYTELLING PROGRAM, ON MEDICAL STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA: A MIXED METHODS EVALUATION
Daniel George, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Background: To evaluate whether medical student participation in TimeSlips, a creative group-based storytelling program, with persons affected by dementia would improve student attitudes towards this patient population. Methods: Fifteen fourth-year medical students from PennState College of Medicine participated in a month-long regimen of TimeSlipssessions at a retirement community in central Pennsylvania. Pre- and post program administration of the items on the Dementia Attitudes Scale were analyzed with paired t-tests to evaluate the mean change in students’ self-reported attitudes toward persons with dementia. Student course evaluations were analyzed at the conclusion of the program to further examine qualitative changes in attitude. Results: Several items on the Dementia Attitudes Scale indicated a statistically significant improvement in medical students’ attitudes towards and perceptions of persons with ADRD. Qualitative data supported quantitative
Figure 1. Example of a life history collage (with permission).
P3-379
S637
findings, while also revealing insights into the manner in which student attitudes toward a geriatric patient population became more positive. Conclusions: While previous research has demonstrated that medical student perceptions of geriatric patients may be improved through non-clinical experiences, this is the first known empirical study to suggest that participation in a creative, group-based storytelling program might improve medical student attitudes towards this patient population. P3-380
EXPLORING LIFE HISTORY COLLAGE EXPOSURE ON PERSONHOOD AND PERSONCENTERED NURSING HOME DEMENTIA CARE
Bill Buron, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, United States. Background: In the nursing home (NH) environment residents living with dementia (RLWD) struggle with maintaining personhood (or identity) when faced with progressive cognitive and communication declines. The purpose of this pilot study is to test the efficacy of an innovative Personhood Advancement Liaison System (PALS), designed to enhance the personhood of RLWD and the nursing assistants (NAs) who care for them. PALS consists of educating staff and residents/families about each other through exposure to individualized Life History Collages, and other activities to promote individualized care. The specific aims are to examine the efficacy of PALS in improving 1) NA a) knowledge of RLWD, b) perceptions of relationship quality with RLWD, c) job satisfaction, d) attitudes toward RLWD, and 2) indicators of care quality for RLWD. Methods: An experimental, quantitative Solomon Four-Group Design will be used to measure the effects of PALS on 32 NAs (16 intervention/16 control), and 6 RLWD (3 intervention/3 control). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be used to compare the effect of PALS on mean outcome levels post-test, and 3 weeks post-intervention, controlling for pre-intervention levels. Two qualitative focus group sessions with intervention NAs, 3 weeks post-intervention, will expand on quantitative findings, and will be analyzed using content analysis. Results: The data generated will inform the preparation of an National Institutes of Health (NIH) K23 proposal for continuing exploration of PAL’s impact on personhood, relationships, and quality of daily life among this unique and disadvantaged population of NH residents. Conclusions: While there is growing evidence that interventions can be effective at increasing NA knowledge about RLWD, more research is needed on the effects of increased knowledge on relationships, job satisfaction, and resident care outcomes in the existing NH milieu of high staff turnover and multicultural staffing. Improved relationships may reduce NA turnover, a proposed outcome in a larger follow-up study. Even small reductions in turnover can improve resident care and lead to tremendous cost savings. The potential impact of this intervention is particularly exciting because of its low cost and simplistic design that can be easily replicated in other NHs.
IMPACT OF PARTICIPATION IN TIMESLIPS, A CREATIVE GROUP-BASED STORYTELLING PROGRAM, ON MEDICAL STUDENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA: A MIXED METHODS EVALUATION
Daniel George, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, United States. Background: To evaluate whether medical student participation in TimeSlips, a creative group-based storytelling program, with persons affected by dementia would improve student attitudes towards this patient population. Methods: Fifteen fourth-year medical students from PennState College of Medicine participated in a month-long regimen of TimeSlipssessions at a retirement community in central Pennsylvania. Pre- and post program administration of the items on the Dementia Attitudes Scale were analyzed with paired t-tests to evaluate the mean change in students’ self-reported attitudes toward persons with dementia. Student course evaluations were analyzed at the conclusion of the program to further examine qualitative changes in attitude. Results: Several items on the Dementia Attitudes Scale indicated a statistically significant improvement in medical students’ attitudes towards and perceptions of persons with ADRD. Qualitative data supported quantitative
Figure 1. Example of a life history collage (with permission).