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Erschienen in:
16.09.2016 | Original Contribution
Professional caregivers’ knowledge in dermatology
Improving knowledge and communication to dermatologists in geriatric facilities
Erschienen in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie | Ausgabe 1/2018
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Background
Research regarding effective collaboration and communication between professional caregivers and dermatologists and the need for further education and training for caregivers in the field of geriatric dermatology still remains relatively scarce.
Objective
To document the state of knowledge of professional caregivers in the field of geriatric dermatology and make recommendations for dermatological education and postgraduate training.
Methods
A questionnaire with open and closed questions was used to evaluate the level of knowledge and current need for
information in geriatric dermatology. A total of 58 professional caregivers from several hospital departments,
including geriatric wards and nursing homes participated in this study. Quantitative and qualitative data were
generated and responses to open questions were categorized according to the most quoted contents. The study was
approved by the Charité University in Berlin ethics committee.
Results
The study demonstrates that there is a lack of dermatological knowledge. Participants indicated a huge information need regarding skin tumors (77.2 %), prevention of skin diseases (50.0 %) and pruritus (41.4 %). According to the caregivers, communication problems with physicians arise in view of using standardized terms of skin diseases (22.9 %) and formulating unclear care records of skin diseases (20.8 %).
Conclusion
Difficulties in communication between professional caregivers and physicians can influence patients’ punctual and well-founded treatment; therefore, further education must be mediated vividly and practically. Moreover, training should focus on learning standardized terms and descriptions for optimizing the flow of information with physicians and written communication, such as care records.