Controlled trial of dementia training with a peer support group for aged care staff

Abstract

SUMMARYObjective This study evaluated the impact of an eight-session training program for aged care staff in managing dementiarelated challenging behaviours. Participation in the training program with an additional five-session peer support group was compared with both participation in training only and a wait-list control condition. Methods Outcomes were evaluated for 90 participating staff members and 113 residents with challenging behaviours from six aged care facilities. Measures of staff attitudes and the behaviours of staff and residents were collected pre-and postintervention, and at six month follow-up. Results Staff members in both dementia training groups reported improved attitudes regarding their knowledge and skills in managing residents with challenging behaviours, immediately after the training and six months later. Facility supervisors rated the nursing performance of trained staff more positively, particularly those who participated in a peer support group. The dementia training programs, whether with or without the inclusion of peer support, did not impact on levels of staff burnout or substantially reduce the level of challenging behaviours among aged care residents. Conclusions While training programs may impact positively on staff performance, organisational characteristics of aged care facilities, including low levels of management support for staff training initiatives, limit the potential outcomes. Methodological limitations are discussed.

Non-pharmacological interventions as a best practice strategy in people with dementia living in nursing homes. A systematic review

“…Thirty-one RCTs met the inclusion criteria [40][41][42][43][44] and five main intervention categories emerged (Table 1): psychoeducational [13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21], physical activity [22][23][24][25], sensorial [26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34], staff-focused [35,36,37,38,40] and complex [41][42][43][44] (Table 2). Nineteen studies were two-arm RCTs [14,15,[17][18][19][21][22][23]25,26,[29][30][...…”

A systematic review of the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of sensory, psychological and behavioural interventions for managing agitation in older adults with dementia

“…[189][190][191] In high-quality studies, training paid caregivers with supervision was effective, but this was not so in low-quality studies. 192,200 The small, low-quality studies of training paid caregivers with supervision had mixed results but most were negative. [193][194][195][196][197][198][199]201 Those of music therapy were small and not blinded to raters, sometimes incorporated other interventions, and had mixed results.…”

The role of psychiatrists in developing the skills of dementia care workers

“…Key studies on valuing care workers Kihlgren 1990Kihlgren , 1996Williams 1994;Hagen 1995;Matteson 1997;Moniz-Cook 1998;McCallion 1999;Proctor 1999;Wilkinson 1999;Lintern 2000;Wells 2000;Magai 2002;Testad 2005;Davison 2007.…”

“…Key studies on psychiatrists' role in effective training Kihlgren 1990Kihlgren , 1996Feldt 1992;Smyer 1992;Maas 1994;Lintern 1996;Mathews 1997;Matteson 1997;Stevens 1998;McCallion 1999;Proctor 1999;Wilkinson 1999;Burgio 2001Roth 2002;Chang 2005;Davison 2007.…”

“…Key studies on activities of daily living Feldt 1992;Kihlgren 1996;Mathews 1997;Stevens 1998;Lintern 2000;Wells 2000;Burgio 2001Peterson 2002;Roth 2002;Chang 2005;Davison 2007.…”