{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T07:21:39Z","timestamp":1792653699466,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":51,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,8]],"date-time":"2025-12-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1765152000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Dementia is a relatively recent addition to the speech and language therapist\u2019s clinical role. Given the increase in prevalence of dementia, a review of current student speech and language therapy training on this topic is essential to ensure the profession can meet the needs of this expanding population. This study therefore aimed to understand the current support and training being provided for pre-registration student speech and language therapists on the topic of dementia across UK universities and explore the experiences and views of lecturers delivering this training. This study used an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, employing a survey which consequently informed two focus groups. In total 18 participants from 16 universities participated in the study. Reflexive thematic analysis identified six main themes in the focus group data; 1. Dementia is a vast and therefore complex topic, 2. There are biases about dementia within and outside the profession, 3. Students bias towards dementia can be shifted through exposure, 4. Teaching could be enhanced by threading dementia through the curriculum, 5. There are several tensions in teaching on dementia: Possibilities versus clinical realities now and in the future, and 6. Dementia teaching must focus on person centeredness. The results emphasise the need for a paradigm shift in the teaching of student speech and language therapists. Underpinned by the principles of person-centered care five core components for teaching dementia student speech and language therapists were synthesized comprising 1. Challenge stereotypes around dementia, 2. Focus on speech, language and communication across dementias, 3. Teach them to build a relationship with people affected by dementia, 4. Teach goal setting for a progressive trajectory, 5. Prepare them to advocate for gold standard. Future research should work with people with dementia to further refine the core components for teaching student speech and language therapists.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0327090","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,8]],"date-time":"2025-12-08T18:22:57Z","timestamp":1765218177000},"page":"e0327090","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Dementia is our \u201cbiggest expanding caseload\u201d: Core learning for student speech and language therapists"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4149-409X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Anna","family":"Volkmer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Reem S.W.","family":"Alyahya","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hannah P.","family":"Atkinson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Arpita","family":"Bose","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hannah","family":"Britton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3924-649X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Lindsey","family":"Collins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-6293-0621","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Katie","family":"Earing","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9214-2185","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"James","family":"Farraday","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dharinee","family":"Hansjee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mary","family":"Heritage","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8489-638X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Sophie","family":"Mackenzie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sally","family":"Pratten","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Catherine","family":"Tattersall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniel","family":"Underdown","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Allison","family":"Virgilio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nicola","family":"Withford-Eaton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mirjam","family":"Gauch","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5007-0785","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Richard","family":"Talbot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jackie","family":"Kindell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0327090.ref001","unstructured":"World Health Organisation website. [Cited 2025 March]. https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/dementia"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref002","unstructured":"UK dementia statistics hub. [Cited 2025 March]. https:\/\/dementiastatistics.org\/"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0327090.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.1007\/s10433-012-0242-8","article-title":"Dementia worry: a psychological examination of an unexplored phenomenon","volume":"9","author":"E-M Kessler","year":"2012","journal-title":"Eur J Ageing"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref004","unstructured":"Live-In Homecare Information Hub, 2015 Study Describes on Website. [Cited 2025 March]. https:\/\/www.thegoodcaregroup.com\/news\/dementia-overtakes-cancer-uks-most-feared-illness\/#:~:text=Dementia%20has%20overtaken%20cancer%20as,shedding%20its%20taboo%20subject%20status.&text=People%20blundering%20into%20care%20at,care%20options%2C%20or%20financial%20planning"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1080\/13607863.2012.692763","article-title":"Diagnosis and disclosure of dementia--a comparative qualitative study of Irish and Swedish General Practitioners","volume":"17","author":"V Moore","year":"2013","journal-title":"Aging Ment Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327090.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"18","DOI":"10.3390\/laws8030018","article-title":"Questioning Segregation of People Living with Dementia in Australia: An International Human Rights Approach to Care Homes","volume":"8","author":"L Steele","year":"2019","journal-title":"Laws"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"477","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-020-01754-x","article-title":"Negative stereotypes, fear and social distance: a systematic review of depictions of dementia in popular culture in the context of stigma","volume":"20","author":"L-F Low","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327090.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"78","DOI":"10.1177\/01410768241311139","article-title":"Preparing the way for novel blood-based biomarkers and disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer\u2019s disease in the NHS in the UK","volume":"118","author":"R Korologou-Linden","year":"2025","journal-title":"J R Soc Med"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref009","unstructured":"National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers. 2018. https:\/\/www.nice.org.uk\/guidance\/ng97"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0327090.ref010","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1349","DOI":"10.1177\/1471301218797240","article-title":"Speech and language therapy for primary progressive aphasia: Referral patterns and barriers to service provision across the UK","volume":"19","author":"A Volkmer","year":"2020","journal-title":"Dementia (London)"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327090.ref011","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"882","DOI":"10.1007\/s11065-023-09607-1","article-title":"Behavioral Treatment for Speech and Language in Primary Progressive Aphasia and Primary Progressive Apraxia of Speech: A Systematic Review","volume":"34","author":"LD Wauters","year":"2024","journal-title":"Neuropsychol Rev"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"122","DOI":"10.1590\/S1980-57642013DN70100018","article-title":"Nonpharmacological interventions for cognitive impairments following primary progressive aphasia: a systematic review of the literature","volume":"7","author":"MT Carthery-Goulart","year":"2013","journal-title":"Dement Neuropsychol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref013","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"87","DOI":"10.1186\/s40814-023-01301-6","article-title":"Results from a randomised controlled pilot study of the Better Conversations with Primary Progressive Aphasia (BCPPA) communication partner training program for people with PPA and their communication partners","volume":"9","author":"A Volkmer","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pilot Feasibility Stud"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327090.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1002\/alz.70088","article-title":"Efficacy of Communication Bridge-2 for primary progressive aphasia: A randomized controlled trial of communication intervention","volume":"21","author":"E Rogalski","year":"2025","journal-title":"Alzheimers Dement"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref015","unstructured":"Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists. How to become a speech and language therapist. [Cited 2025 March 6]. https:\/\/www.rcslt.org\/speech-and-language-therapy\/become-a-speech-and-language-therapist\/"},{"issue":"21","key":"pone.0327090.ref016","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1231","DOI":"10.1080\/09638280310001599961","article-title":"Services for aphasia, other acquired adult neurogenic communication and swallowing disorders in the United Kingdom, 2000","volume":"25","author":"C Code","year":"2003","journal-title":"Disabil Rehabil"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4324\/9780429490132","volume-title":"Aphasia therapy: Historical and contemporary issues","author":"D Howard","year":"2018"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref018","unstructured":"UK National Service Framework for Long Term Conditions. UK Government. 2023. https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/publications\/quality-standards-for-supporting-people-with-long-term-conditions#:~:text=The%20\u2019National%20Service%20Framework%20for,live%20as%20independently%20as%20possible"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref019","first-page":"15","article-title":"Research shows the profession has a valuable role with elderly mentally ill people","volume":"1","author":"M Heritage","year":"1994","journal-title":"Hum Commun"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref020","author":"Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy","year":"2005"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref021","author":"Royal College of Speech and Language Therapy","year":"2024"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref022","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.1055\/s-0033-1337390","article-title":"Teaching future providers about dementia: the impact of service learning","volume":"34","author":"N Mahendra","year":"2013","journal-title":"Semin Speech Lang"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref023","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"986","DOI":"10.1044\/2020_AJSLP-20-00073","article-title":"Confidence and Training of Speech-Language Pathologists in Cognitive-Communication Disorders: Time to Rethink Graduate Education Models?","volume":"30","author":"EL Morrow","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am J Speech Lang Pathol"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0327090.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1080\/02687030801943039","article-title":"Speech pathology services for primary progressive aphasia: exploring an emerging area of practice","volume":"23","author":"C Taylor","year":"2009","journal-title":"Aphasiology"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0327090.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"914","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.12495","article-title":"Speech and language therapy for primary progressive aphasia across the UK: A survey of current practice","volume":"54","author":"A Volkmer","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Lang Commun Disord"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0327090.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1046","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.12843","article-title":"Access, referral, service provision and management of individuals with primary progressive aphasia: A survey of speech-language therapists in Italy","volume":"58","author":"P Battista","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Lang Commun Disord"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327090.ref027","article-title":"Perspective of Speech and Language Therapists in Turkey on Primary Progressive Aphasia","volume":"13","author":"\u0130C YA\u015eA","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sage Open"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0327090.ref028","article-title":"A Core Outcome Set for Nonpharmacological Community-Based Interventions for People Living With Dementia at Home: A Systematic Review of Outcome Measurement Instruments","volume":"61","author":"AJE Harding","year":"2021","journal-title":"Gerontologist"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1002\/alz.14362","article-title":"An international core outcome set for primary progressive aphasia (COS-PPA): Consensus-based recommendations for communication interventions across research and clinical settings","volume":"21","author":"A Volkmer","year":"2025","journal-title":"Alzheimers Dement"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0327090.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"955","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.12574","article-title":"Dementia knowledge, attitudes and training needs of speech-language pathology students and practitioners: A countrywide study","volume":"55","author":"N Saccasan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Lang Commun Disord"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0327090.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2351","DOI":"10.1044\/2023_AJSLP-22-00410","article-title":"Perspectives of Speech-Language Pathologists and Students on Providing Care to People Living With Dementia: A Scoping Review","volume":"32","author":"JF Mayer","year":"2023","journal-title":"Am J Speech Lang Pathol"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0327090.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2229","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.13079","article-title":"Awareness and knowledge of dementia and its communication disorders amongst Brazilian speech and language therapists","volume":"59","author":"BC Beber","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Lang Commun Disord"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"68","DOI":"10.1002\/gps.4602","article-title":"How do we enhance undergraduate healthcare education in dementia? A review of the role of innovative approaches and development of the Time for Dementia Programme","volume":"32","author":"S Banerjee","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Geriatr Psychiatry"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0327090.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1514","DOI":"10.1177\/14713012231191412","article-title":"Understanding the experiences of people with dementia and their family carers participating in healthcare student dementia education: A mixed-methods evaluation from the time for dementia programme","volume":"22","author":"S Daley","year":"2023","journal-title":"Dementia (London)"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0327090.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"253","DOI":"10.20525\/ijrbs.v10i5.1262","article-title":"Explanatory sequential design of mixed methods research: Phases and challenges","volume":"10","author":"MAS Toyon","year":"2021","journal-title":"IJRBS"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"385","DOI":"10.17705\/1CAIS.05216","article-title":"Conducting Online Focus Groups - Practical Advice for Information Systems Researchers","volume":"52","author":"L Schulze","year":"2023","journal-title":"CAIS"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1177\/16094069221142406","article-title":"A Literature Review of Studies that Have Compared the Use of Face-To-Face and Online Focus Groups","volume":"21","author":"JE Jones","year":"2022","journal-title":"International Journal of Qualitative Methods"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0327090.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"285","DOI":"10.3233\/EFI-180221","article-title":"The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 for information professionals and researchers","volume":"34","author":"QN Hong","year":"2018","journal-title":"EFI"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref039","volume-title":"Qualtrics XM\/os2","author":"Qualtrics","year":"2025"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0327090.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"V Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qualitative Research in Psychology"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref041","volume-title":"Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide","author":"V Braun","year":"2021"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref042","first-page":"19","article-title":"Doing reflexive thematic analysis","volume-title":"Supporting research in counselling and psychotherapy: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research","author":"V Braun","year":"2023"},{"issue":"4","key":"pone.0327090.ref043","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1553","DOI":"10.1111\/1460-6984.13018","article-title":"\u201cCommunication is difficult\u201d: Speech, language and communication needs of people with young onset or rarer forms of non-language led dementia","volume":"59","author":"A Volkmer","year":"2024","journal-title":"Int J Lang Commun Disord"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref044","article-title":"When it is not primary progressive aphasia: A scoping review of spoken language impairment in other neurodegenerative dementias","volume":"7","author":"A Su\u00e1rez-Gonz\u00e1lez","year":"2021","journal-title":"Alzheimers Dement (N Y)"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0327090.ref045","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/ageing\/afae037","article-title":"Prevalence of swallowing disorder in different dementia subtypes among older adults: a meta-analysis","volume":"53","author":"AR Putri","year":"2024","journal-title":"Age Ageing"},{"issue":"5","key":"pone.0327090.ref046","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"345","DOI":"10.1016\/S0021-9924(03)00050-9","article-title":"\u201cThey\u2019re just going to get worse anyway\u201d: perspectives on rehabilitation for nursing home residents with dementia","volume":"36","author":"TL Hopper","year":"2003","journal-title":"J Commun Disord"},{"key":"pone.0327090.ref047","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1097\/TGR.0b013e31821e5945","article-title":"Cognitive linguistic interventions for persons with dementia","volume":"27","author":"N Mahendra","year":"2011","journal-title":"Top Geriatr Rehabil"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref048","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"65","DOI":"10.1186\/s12875-019-0956-1","article-title":"General practitioners\u2019 attitudes towards early diagnosis of dementia: a cross-sectional survey","volume":"20","author":"S Giezendanner","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Fam Pract"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0327090.ref049","first-page":"70","article-title":"Referral Patterns to Speech and Language Therapy in the UK Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: Dysphagia Compared with Communication Disorders","volume":"77","author":"Y Yoshimatsu","year":"2025","journal-title":"Folia Phoniatrica et Logopaedica"},{"issue":"6","key":"pone.0327090.ref050","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1063","DOI":"10.1080\/09638288.2022.2051080","article-title":"Principles and philosophies for speech and language therapists working with people with primary progressive aphasia: an international expert consensus","volume":"45","author":"A Volkmer","year":"2023","journal-title":"Disabil Rehabil"},{"issue":"7","key":"pone.0327090.ref051","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1011","DOI":"10.1002\/gps.5532","article-title":"A comparative study of the effect of the Time for Dementia programme on medical students","volume":"36","author":"S Banerjee","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Geriatr Psychiatry"}],"container-title":["PLOS One"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0327090","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,8]],"date-time":"2025-12-08T18:23:05Z","timestamp":1765218185000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0327090"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Rohit","family":"Ravi,","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,8]]},"references-count":51,"journal-issue":{"issue":"12","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,8]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0327090","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,8]]}}}