Dementia knowledge, attitudes and training needs of speech-language pathology students and practitioners: A countrywide study

Background Due to dementia-related communication difficulties, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play a significant role in supporting individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Nevertheless, SLP practitioners may not have received adequate dementia training during their undergraduate programme and skills updating post-qualification. Investigating the knowledge, attitudes and training needs of SLP students and practitioners would provide evidence on the need of enhancing training in dementia care and management at both the undergraduate level and through continuous professional development programmes. Aims To assess the levels of dementia knowledge, attitudes and training needs of SLP students and practitioners. Methods & Procedures A countrywide survey was conducted with undergraduate students reading for a BSc degree in communication therapy and SLPs currently in practice. Dementia knowledge and attitudes were assessed using the Alzheimer's Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS) and the Dementia Attitude Scale (DAS). Training needs were measured using a three-point Likert scale from a list of topics related to dementia management and care. Quantitative methods were used to analyse the collected data. Outcomes & Results A total of 49 SLP students (94.2% response rate) and 113 practitioners (57.4% response rate) completed the survey. Although SLP practitioners scored significantly better than students on the ADKS and its constructs, both cohorts showed inadequate knowledge of dementia, in particular dementia risk factors. In general, both SLP students and practitioners showed positive attitudes towards individuals with dementia, even though significant differences were observed. With respect to training needs, SLP practitioners significantly scored less compared with students denoting that, in this cohort, there was the belief that less training in dementia was required. Conclusions & Implications Although SLPs have an important role to play in the management and care of individuals with dementia, the findings of this study indicated a shortage of in-depth knowledge in this area of practice. This continues to highlight the need of enhancing dementia training programmes through undergraduate curriculum development and continuous professional programmes for skills updating. What this paper addsWhat this paper adds to existing knowledgeWhat is already known on the subjectWhat are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? One of the symptoms of dementia is that affected individuals progressively lose the ability to communicate effectively. With an increase in the number of people with dementia due to global ageing growth, SLPs are more likely to come into contact with such individuals and their caregivers. At present, there is little research on the levels of dementia knowledge, attitudes and training needs among individuals pursuing their career in this profession. This study highlights a dearth of in-depth knowledge among undergraduate students and practising SLPs in various aspects of dementia management and care and argues on the need of enhancing training in this field of study. Improving SLPs' knowledge on dementia can enhance their professional role in several areas, including the provision of information on risk factors, disease progression and its effect on communication abilities, screening of cognitive communication difficulties and developing management plans aimed at maintaining communication abilities at the highest level.