Review Highlights Urgent Need for Improved Dementia Training in Healthcare

A newly published systematic review highlights significant gaps and opportunities in dementia training for healthcare professionals. The comprehensive analysis, conducted by a team led by Claudia Cooper and including Sedigheh Zabihi, Saskia Delray, Malvika Muralidhar, Sube Banerjee, Clarissa Giebel, Karen Harrison Dening, Yvonne Birks, Rachael Hunter, Mohammed Akhlak Rauf, Charlotte Kenten, and Madeleine Walpert, is now available in the International Psychogeriatrics journal.

The review evaluated 63 studies from 2015 to 2024, examining diverse training interventions ranging from online modules to interactive workshops. Key findings reveal the success of the “Train-the-Trainer” (TTT) reflective practice model, significantly improving knowledge, attitudes, and practical dementia care skills among primary care nurses and doctors.

Hospital-based studies further demonstrated the effectiveness of interactive expert-led and TTT training in reducing patient agitation, enhancing communication, and improving overall care quality during hospital stays. The review identified the limited implementation of the Dementia Core Skills Education and Training Framework (DCSETF) across England, emphasising time constraints as major barriers to effective training.

Healthcare stakeholders highlighted the adaptability and effectiveness of group and TTT training models, advocating for their wider implementation. The authors urge immediate policy action to integrate evidence-based dementia training into routine healthcare practices, potentially transforming dementia care quality and outcomes globally.

For an in-depth look at the review and its implications for dementia care practice and policy, readers are encouraged to access the full article.

Sedigheh Zabihi, Saskia Delray, Malvika Muralidhar, Sube Banerjee, Clarissa Giebel, Karen Harrison Dening, Yvonne Birks, Rachael Hunter, Mohammed Akhlak Rauf, Charlotte Kenten, Madeleine Walpert, Claudia Cooper,
Dementia training for healthcare professionals: A systematic policy and evidence review,
International Psychogeriatrics,
2025,
100088,
ISSN 1041-6102,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inpsyc.2025.100088.