Developing an animated COVID-19 e-curriculum for adults with dementia and caregivers: Challenges and solutions. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oyeyemi, Deborah M.; Omer, Zehra B.; Brown, Bryan; Freimund, Jennifer; Gummerson, Christine; Rink, Andrea; Gallant, Noelle; Marottoli, Richard A.
• Is Part Of: Patient education and counseling. Volume 106(2023)
• Page Start: 180
• Page End: 187
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: Animation -- Pandemic -- Dementia -- Caregiver -- Education; Patient education -- Periodicals; Health counseling -- Periodicals; Health education -- Periodicals; Counseling -- Periodicals; Patient Education -- Periodicals; Éducation des patients -- Périodiques; Counseling -- Périodiques; Éducation sanitaire -- Périodiques; 615.5071
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.10.346
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-3991

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: Effective education and support for adults with dementia and their caregivers around pandemic issues is critical for protecting them. Animation-based learning has shown promise in patient education. We collaborated with educators and support staff at Alzheimer's Association Connecticut (AACT) to conduct a mixed-methods study and develop an animated e-curriculum addressing pandemic related challenges. Methods: We conducted focus groups and surveys with dementia and caregiver educators and support staff at AACT for the initial needs assessment and the later e-curriculum evaluation. An interdisciplinary team of educators followed a step-wise process to transform the needs assessment results into an animation based e-curriculum. Results: Participants identified the following pandemic challenges: 1) social isolation, 2) caregiver fatigue, 3) safety, and 4) difficulty navigating the healthcare system. The overall quality and usefulness of the e-curriculum was "very good" or "excellent". Conclusions: An animated e-curriculum addressing pandemic related issues relevant to adults with dementia and caregivers had positive reviews and was associated with improvement in self-reported ability to perform curriculum objectives among community dementia educators. Practice implications: The pandemic challenges identified may facilitate the development of further resources. Additionally, this project may serve as a guide for clinicians interested in incorporating animation into education efforts. Highlights: A local assessment revealed safety concerns and difficulty navigating the changing healthcare system as major pandemic challenges for adults with dementia and caregivers. An animated e-curriculum addressing these challenges was associated with improvement in self-reported ability to perform curriculum objectives among community dementia educators. Motivated educators with minimal background in animation or film can follow a stepwise process to use animation for curriculum development.