Evaluation of 'Dementia Friends' programme for undergraduate nursing students: Innovative practice.

The 'dementia friends' programme was launched by the Alzheimer's Society in the UK two years ago with the purpose of educating members of the public about the things they can do which can enhance the lives of people living with dementia. The aim of this project was to deliver a two-hour 'Dementia Friendly Community Workshop' written by the Alzheimer's Society, to an entire cohort of first-year undergraduate nursing students in one Higher Education Institutions in Northern Ireland. Following delivery of the programme, students were asked to complete a short questionnaire on their knowledge and confidence in relation to dementia care before and after the Dementia Friendly Community programme. A total of 322 undergraduate first-year nursing students took part in the Dementia Friendly Community programme. Of these, 304 returned questionnaires; 31.25% of students stated their perceived improvement in dementia knowledge was 'good' while 49.01% stated their perceived improvement in dementia knowledge was 'very good' and 13.49% stated their perceived improvement in dementia knowledge was 'excellent'. In relation to confidence in engaging with people with dementia, 31.91% stated 'good' improvement, 40.79% stated 'very good' improvement and 11.84% stated 'excellent' improvement. The Dementia Friendly Community programme was positively reviewed by the undergraduate students as it enhanced knowledge and confidence in relation to care of someone living with dementia.

Using dance/movement therapy to augment the effectiveness of therapeutic holding with children.

PROBLEM: Therapeutic holding is a commonly used tool for the containment of aggressive behavior in children. Although often effective, the intervention has inherent physical and emotional safety risks. Can a body-based therapy be used to limit these risks? METHODS: Research was conducted incorporating dance/movement therapy techniques (D/MT) before and after therapeutic holding to investigate this question. Volunteer residential treatment center staff participated in a 4-hour D/MT-based training workshop integrating the techniques with the intervention. Children participated via self-report. FINDINGS: D/MT training increased adult awareness, sensitivity, perspective shifting ability, and confidence in the intervention while decreasing the necessity for physicality. CONCLUSION: Integrating D/MT therapy training with therapeutic holding decreased the threat of trauma to adult participants. Further research into the integration of D/MT techniques with safe holding procedures may prove helpful in the challenge of making restraints safer for both children and adults.