Strategy for Creating Evidence‐based Educational Programs

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundTo address the challenges of caregiving, the Alzheimer’s Association offers a range of educational programs, both in‐person and virtual, on a variety of topics, including understanding Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, communication and dementia‐related behaviors, and financial literacy. The Association has a concerted effort to offer programs that meet the needs of their constituents, while also ensuring the programs are evidence‐based. The Association has developed a strategy for proving the evidence‐base of their educational programs and are systematically conducting studies on these programs.MethodThis strategy includes creating an academic collaboration with an expert researcher in the field. Additionally, collaborations are created with community partners to aid with recruitment and implementation. Recruitment is another important aspect of the strategy that must be individualized depending on the program; however we have the benefit of using our caregiving network. The methodology also is thought through carefully, including the program ‘dose’, outcomes, and the inclusion of data collection periods.ResultAdditionally, in the process of the creation and evaluation of a program, it is important to consider the generalizability and application of the program, which must then be integrated into the research design. For the Association, this approach includes developing programs that are scalable and accessible, including multiple modes of delivery, engaging diverse and underserved communities, creating Spanish versions, including all types of caregivers (including both dementia and non‐dementia caregivers). To accomplish this, caregivers are engaged throughout the entire process and the Association’s chapter network of 70 local chapters is utilized on the ground‐level to recruit and disseminate the program through community educators and community partnerships.ConclusionOverall, during this session, the strategy behind building an evidence‐base for educational programs will be discussed in‐depth and we will examine the balance that is needed to fill the need within the target population and community, ensure the program is interactive and engaging, and create a scientifically‐sound methodology.