Pre/post-follow-up evaluation of person-centred care education in dementia care for direct care staff in the sub-acute aged rehabilitation setting

To support the holistic needs of persons living with dementia undergoing rehabilitation, an education program informed by the Kitwood model of person-centred care (PCC) was provided to the direct care nursing, medical and allied health staff (n = 66) of one sub-acute aged rehabilitation hospital. A multi-methods pre/post/follow-up study design evaluated participant reactions, learning, behaviour and outcomes. Compared to pre-PCC education, at post- and at 6-months follow-up there were significant improvements in participant PCC confidence (p < 0.001, 95 % CI), knowledge and skills (p < 0.0001, 95 % CI), care quality (p = 0.000, phi = 0.37) and a 17.5 % improvement in service quality (p = 0.369, phi=0.08). PCC was maintained through policy, practice guidelines and communication aids instigated by PCC champions. PCC education is effective when it is accessible, streamlined and includes a range of learning options catering to direct care staff's preferred learning styles and according to learning needs.