Translating training in the NYU caregiver intervention in Australia: maintaining fidelity and meeting graduate standards in an online continuing professional education setting

The aim of this study was to develop an Internet-based self-directed training program for Australian healthcare workers to facilitate learning and competence in delivery of a proven intervention for caregivers of people with dementia: The New York University Caregiver Intervention (NYUCI). The NYUCI is a non-pharmacological, multi-component intervention for spousal caregivers, aimed at maintaining well-being by increasing social support and decreasing family discord thereby delaying or avoiding nursing home placement of the person with dementia. Training in the NYUCI in the United States has, until now, been conducted in person to trainee practitioners. The internet-based intervention was developed simultaneously for trainees in the US and Australia. In Australia, due to population geography, community healthcare workers, who provide support to older adult caregivers of people with dementia, live and work in many regional and rural areas. Therefore it was especially important to have online training available to make it possible to realize the health and economic benefits of using an existing evidence-based intervention. This study aimed to transfer knowledge of training in, and delivery of the NYUCI for an Australian context and consumers. This paper details the considerations given to contextual differences and to learners’ skillset differences in translating the NYUCI for Australia