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American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias logoLink to American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
. 2002 May-Jun;17(3):154–164. doi: 10.1177/153331750201700309

Basic Care I: The effect of dementia-specific training on certified nursing assistants and other sraff

Diane Peterson 1, Marla Berg-Weger 2, Janis McGillick, Lorelei Schwartz 3
PMCID: PMC10833681  PMID: 12083345

Abstract

This study evaluates the effectiveness of Basic Care I, a dementia-specific training course offered by the St. Louis Alzheimer's Association. Using three standardized measures, the effects of the course on knowledge gain, stress level, and sense of work-related self-esteem are examined. Findings suggest that participation in Basic Care I increases retained learning, as 76.4 percent of the sample showed improvement on dementia knowledge scores. The outcomes of stress and self-esteem measures are inconclusive but indicate areas for future study. Implications for program planning are discussed.

Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, dementia, Basic, Care I, nursing assistants, training

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Contributor Information

Diane Peterson, Alexian Brothers PACE Program, St. Louis, Missouri.

Marla Berg-Weger, Saint Louis University School of Social Service, St. Louis, Missouri.

Lorelei Schwartz, Alzheimer's Association, St. Louis Chapter, St. Louis, Missouri.

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