Aged care staff perceptions of an online training program for responsive behaviours of residents with dementia.

Objective: To explore residential aged care staff perceptions of an online training program on the management of antipsychotic medications for responsive behaviour in residential aged care.

Methods: A qualitative process evaluation was undertaken in four residential aged care facilities of one organisation in Australia. Five focus group interviews were conducted with 25 participants including nurses, care workers, occupational therapists and assistants.

Results: Direct care staff found that the training program increased their awareness and knowledge of responsive behaviours associated with dementia. Inductive thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) impact of online learning for dementia care; (2) applying online learning in dementia practice; and (3) realising the benefits and challenges of online learning.

Conclusions: From the perspective of the participants, the online training program had a positive effect on their knowledge, communication and practice of caring for residents with dementia with responsive behaviours.