A SUCCESSFUL VIDEOCONFERENCE SATELLITE PROGRAM: PROVIDING NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION ON DEMENTIA TO RURAL CAREGIVERS

A videoconference satellite program proved to be an effective method of distance education for rural caregivers seeking information on nutrition and dementia. A team of specialists designed the 90-min program by implementing the components of successful videoconferencing: (a) defining the audience and their needs, (b) identifying key topics in the subject area, (c) designing an interactive program format, (d) coordinating activities at the downlink sites, (e) promoting the program, and (f) evaluating the project. The objectives of the teleconference, discussed in this article, were to provide rural caregivers with up-to-date nutrition interventions, to create a local environment in which caregivers and providers could interact, and to assess the general acceptance of videoconferencing as an educational medium in rural Montana. A panel consisting of a narrator, a physician, an occupational therapist, and a registered dietitian, provided an overview of nutritional concerns, discussed problem-solving techniques, and answered questions. Twenty-three Montana communities hosted the KU/C satellite frequency band downlink program for both family and professional caregivers. The program was simultaneously broadcast on public television. Program participants rated both program content and delivery method highly, and 100% of survey respondents indicated that they would attend another teleconference.