Workforce development and dementia care in Bangladesh: policy learning from the Scottish context

Dementia is a neuro-progressive condition and global public health concern, impactingindividuals, families, carers, and society. The rising number of people diagnosed withdementia has given rise to calls for countries to develop national dementia action plans andassociated strategies for dementia care workforce development. The aim of this study was toinvestigate Scottish dementia care policies and workforce development approaches toconsider their potential application within Bangladesh. A pragmatic sequential mixed studywas completed, including an integrative literature review, documentary policy analysis and keyinformant interviews to explore Scottish dementia policy. This was complimented by a seriesof nominal group technique (NGT) meetings with cross sectorial stakeholders in Bangladesh.Data collection and analysis were underpinned by an innovative fusion of two structuredframeworks for evaluating policy success and policy transfer. Rigour was promoted drawingupon the principles of triangulation and complementarity.Twenty-two Scottish policy documents and five key informant interviews were analysed toevaluate the process, programme, and political level success of Scottish dementia carepolicies and workforce development approaches. In addition, twenty-five multi-sectoralstakeholders participated in five NGT discussions in Bangladesh. Findings of the documentarypolicy analysis and key informant interviews identified important ingredients for success,including stakeholder involvement, a right-based dementia care approach, and commitmentfor developing and implementing innovative practice models. The NGT findings identifiedpriorities for future dementia care policy and workforce development approach in Bangladesh.These included developing dementia awareness, education and training for health and socialcare professionals and family carers, early detection, proper diagnosis, and treatment,developing and promoting health and social care systems for people living with dementia. Theproject managed to successfully integrate findings from Scotland and Bangladesh and howthis can lead to more informed approaches to policy transfer in dementia and help to realisecurrent goals for a global joined-up approach.