The Effect of a Half-Day Training Program for Students in Multiple Healthcare Disciplines on Communication Support for People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis using Pre- / Post-tests

Abstract

Augmentative and alternative communication has been used as support for patients with communication disorders. We made a half-day training program on communication support for patients with neurodegenerative disorders, especially amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and implemented it for students in multiple healthcare disciplines at 4 universities. Participants took part in the same training program twice at half-year intervals. We defined the group that took the course for the first time as “Beginners” and the group that took the course 6 months previously as “Experienced”. Fifty-eight participants (105 trials) were obtained from 4 universities and 4 faculties. Beginners’ test scores increased after taking the course. These scores decreased again in the pre-test score 6 months later. However, the score was better than the pre-test score at the time of the first attendance. With the wait-list control design with half-year intervals, the pre- / post-test scores suggested that participants retained a certain level of knowledge for 6 months.