Training in Psychosocial care in Dementia in European Higher Education: a mixed-method analysis. The SiDeCar Project

Abstract

Introduction: Dementia represents a public health priority worldwide. The number of studies consistently reporting the positive effects of psychosocial interventions for people with dementia, families and professional caregivers is constantly increasing.

Despite the evidence, research results struggle to be transferred into higher education and then into practice. In order to foster the translational process, the SiDeCar, Eu E+ project funded through the KA2 asset, will develop an international curriculum of studies aimed at increasing psychosocial practices knowledge in dementia care.

Method: Data about the European state of the art in HE in dementia care is being collected via an ad-hoc online survey and then matched to the European, National and Regional recommendations for dementia care. Results: Preliminary data reveals that in Europe the 19% of the provided teachings belong to first HE level, the 80% to the second level, and the 1% to the third level.

Among them, the 38% are courses, 23% are modules and 39% are topics delivered within course and modules not directly referable to dementia care themes. The taught issues appear having a theoretical focus in the 18% of cases, being related to the practice of care in the 53% and to mixed issues in the remaining 29%.

Finally, most of the teachings are provided in central/western institutes (89%). Discussion: Aimed at producing intellectual output such as, academic syllabi for the HE students, manuals for academics, guidelines for welfare stakeholders, recommendations for politicians, the SiDeCar project will work to foster the bridging process of translation from research into practice by supporting those universities and institutes that still lack of curricula centred on psycho-social care in dementia towards the relevance of the psycho-social approach in dealing with dementia-related problems.