1 Interprofessional Student Team Approach to Care for Residents with Dementia: Development of Empathy Linking Theory, Research and Practice: A Systemic

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Interprofessional Student Team Approach to Care for Residents with Dementia:

Development of Empathy

Linking Theory, Research and Practice:A Systemic Approach in Nursing

CASN/ACESI 2009 Nursing Research Conference

Moncton, New Brunswick May 2009

Darlene J. Scott, RN, BSN, MSc(CH&E)

Nursing Division

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Dementia Behaviors & Empathy

3 themes:Dementia careIPE team building skillsEmpathy

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The Project Intents Intent to provide an opportunity for

Nursing and medical radiological technology students

Development of interprofessional teamwork skills and behaviors

The project provided opportunities for health science students to engage in:Team building exercisesCase-based scenariosFacilitated small group discussions


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Student Groups7 Year 2 students from the Nursing

Education Program of Saskatchewan, Nursing Division, SIAST

8 Year 2 students from the Medical Diagnostics Programs, Science & Health Division, SIAST

divided into 3 teams of students from both programs


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Project Description: 3 sessions

1st &3rd - problem based learning (PBL) with 5 part scenario in interprofessional (IP) teams

Scenario featured elderly patient with dementia

2nd - all students experienced Virtual Dementia Tour© -

Debriefing in 3rd session


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Virtual Dementia Tour©*

Is a lived experience replicating the sensory symptoms of dementia :

replicate degenerative physical symptoms

heighten awareness level of the plight of confused elders

*The Virtual Dementia Tour © developed by Second Wind Dreams

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Evaluation

pre and post surveys of the PBLpre and post surveys of VDT© evaluation of group participation

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Pre & Post surveys of VDT©

Pre- VDT©

During-VDT©

Post- VDT©

Confidence in own ability to complete tasks of daily living

83% very confident

69% somewhat

23% not at all

83% frustrated that unable to complete tasks

•15% of students had a pretest score of feeling very confident and a subsequent post test score of feeling not at all confident during the tour

•77% of students felt frustrated ‘to a degree of 60% or more’ during tour


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Pre & Post Surveys of VDT©

Pre- VDT© Post-VDT©

Elders with dementia have different needs than those without dementia

75% same needs23% different needs

Understanding of emotional needs of elders with dementia

5% felt strongly that needs understood

63% reported increased awareness

How easy it is for residents with dementia to get through the day.

3% somewhat easy67% not at all easy

Level of awareness of difficulties residents experienced coping with routine daily activities

100% of students felt the tour made them more aware


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Year 1 Student Comments“I didn’t expect to learn so much. Going

through the tour I was frustrated when I couldn’t remember what I supposed to do or if I couldn’t find something. Coming out of the tour I feel I can relate to these clients. I realize that I have to become more patient with my clients … give them one task at a time and let them take as long as they need.”


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Yr 1 Student Comments (cont’d)

We got to experience what it would be like to have dementia. This allowed us to have more compassion than if we had not experienced it. It will allow me to care for residents with increased sensitivity and a greater knowledge base. I am very grateful for the experience.


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Yr 1 Student Comments (cont’d)

I found it very interesting. I found it gave me a better understanding of what a person who is living with dementia encounters on a daily basis.

I now understand some of the confusion

and frustration those with dementia experience. I will bring more patience and be more caring as they have a huge challenge.

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Subsequent Experiences10 faculty in Med Diagnostics ProgramAll final year students in Med Diagnostics

Program experience VDT20 faculty in nursing programAll nursing students in Year 1

fundamentals clinical course (Kelsey Campus)

27 staff in long term care facilities (an education site for 4 groups of Yr 1 nursing students)


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ConclusionUse of a Virtual Dementia Tour© has a profound impact on student

practice as well as faculty and stafffacilitates the development of empathy

for elders with dementia.


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AcknowledgmentsProject co-facilitators:

Tara Hupaelo, and Cathy Baerg, Medical Diagnostic Programs, Science & Health

Division, SIASTFunding supported by:

Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology

&P-CITE, Saskatchewan’s Canadian Interprofessional

Education for Collaborative Patient Centred Practice (CIECPCP), Health Canada Project



Contact information:

Darlene J. Scott: [email protected]

Second Winds Dreams Virtual Dementia Tour Training Kit© available fromhttp://www.secondwind.org/

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1 Interprofessional Student Team Approach to Care for Residents with Dementia: Development of Empathy Linking Theory, Research and Practice: A Systemic