Boosts professional confidence

2007.04.03 by Jan Fredrik Frantzen

The Net-based course "Learn about dementia by broadband" is now in its fourth year. And the feedback from the participants is crystal clear: - This boosts our professional confidence.

Mette-Marit Lødveteig.

Mette-Marit Lødveteig Aasebø from Volda has worked in the public health service for 24 years and has daily contact with people who have dementia as well as their families. She is clearly satisfied with the programme, which the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine (NST) has been involved in developing.

"This is a highly instructive course. It is rewarding to develop your professional competence and to be able to share expertise," she enthuses.

The 20 pupils, who come from Volda, Nord-Trøndelag and Nøtterøy this time, work in groups at their home locations, gathering online in the discussion forum, for videoconferences and for video lectures.

Reassuring for family members
Mette-Marit is the only participant from Volda, but the technical solutions that form the basis of the course – videoconferences and a discussion forum on the Net – make it easy for her to keep up with the programme.

"We learn a lot about how we can make everyday life easier for family members, by giving advice and by providing as much help as possible to people who are affected by dementia," she continues.

In addition, the participants learn more about the disease and what characterizes its various stages. This gives them better opportunities for adapting the treatment to the patient's situation.

High praise for the collaboration with the NST
Anette Hansen is the group manager for the day centre and the evaluation unit at Bjønnesåsen Bo- og Behandlingssenter (residential and treatment centre) in the municipality of Nøtterøy. She took this course last year, and is one of two instructors for this year's course. She has 14 years of experience in geriatric care herself.

"I wish I had had this course when I was working in home nursing care. It is extremely useful, and has given me much greater professional insight and confidence, especially with regard to family members and how we can help them."

Together with Signe Gjelstad, the other instructor, Hansen updates the home page for the project, makes arrangements with lecturers, manages the discussion forum on the Net and provides professional guidance for the students. And she has high praise for their collaboration with the NST in Tromsø.

"We work very well as a team. Rigmor Furu and Zoltan Tot have a wealth of professional expertise and have given us plenty of help along the way," she concludes.

The course in brief
The course was developed as a collaborative project between the NST, the Norwegian Centre for Dementia Research, Pårørendeskolen (school for family caregivers) in Oslo and the firm Inger Hagen. The development of the course was funded by the Research Council of Norway (NFR).

It is currently being implemented as a cooperative effort between Bjønnesåsen Bo- og Behandlingssenter in the municipality of Nøtterøy, the Norwegian Centre for Dementia Research and the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine.

Through short videos on the Web site for the course, the participants think of problem formulations which are relevant in dementia care. After this they must create their own assignments, which they must solve. In collaboration with Vestfold University College, participants can take an examination if they wish, and obtain 15 credits for the course.

The Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine (NST) is responsible for the technical basis and adaptation for educational use. The NST is also responsible for training in Net-based learning and videoconferencing and provides follow-up with the necessary support along the way.

Contact person at the NST
Rigmor Furu, training coordinator/project manager, telephone +47 909 92 299 or email rigmor.furu@telemed.no

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