Training of trainers in the GI‐mhGAP dementia module: National training experience in Mexico

• Published in: Alzheimer's & dementia Vol. 17; no. S8; pp. e052437 - n/a
• Main Authors: Astudillo‐García, Claudia Iveth, Xochihua‐Tlecuitl, Tonatiuh, Velásquez, José Javier Mendoza, López‐Montoya, Alejandra, Austria‐Corrales, Fernando
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-12-2021
• ISSN: 1552-5260; 1552-5279
• DOI: 10.1002/alz.052437

Background
The GI‐mhGAP (WHO) is an evidence‐based clinical guideline for the assessment and management of mental, neurological and substance use disorders (MNS) in non‐specialist health settings, which aims to improve capacity for the identification, diagnosis, management and treatment of people with MNS disorders. In Mexico, a national network of facilitators is being established to train non‐specialist mental health providers at the first level of care. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present how participants perceive themselves in the assessment, management and follow‐up of people with dementia, as well as to provide a replication of this course to primary care personnel.
Method
The sample consisted of 651 participants (doctors, psychologists, nurses and social workers) who were in the virtual training course for facilitators in the GI‐mhGAP given between September‐November 2020, and completed the digital feedback form. Responses were aggregated in a database and analysed using the 'topicmodel' (Grün & Hornik, 2011) and 'tidytext' in R (R Core Team, 2020).
Results
The sample consisted of 474 (72.81%) women and 177 (27.19%) men, with a mean age of 39.9 (SD=8.13). Regarding the perceived self‐efficacy for the assessment of the condition in their daily practice 70.04% (n=456) felt confident to do it, 63.75% (n=415) felt confident to manage the condition; but only half of them felt confident to train other professionals (54.84%, n=357). The results of the semantic analysis reflect the importance of providing psychoeducation to caregivers and family members, as well as training in assessment based on the identification of symptoms for proper diagnosis. It highlights the need for more training on pharmacological treatment, extending its duration and reducing technical problems with the platform, as well as having more examples and clinical cases.
Conclusion
The trained facilitators feel more self‐efficient in identifying and managing the condition in their daily practice, but report the need for further training to be able to replicate the dementia module in primary care providers.