Nursing home staffintentions for learned communication skills: Knowledge to practice

Abstract

Staffeducation is critical to improving nursing home dementia care practice. However, a lag in translation to practice is a barrier to improving care. As part of a clinical trial testing effects of a communication intervention on behaviors of residents with dementia, participant-reported likelihood of using learned skills in practice was evaluated in relation to organizational and individual factors in 10 nursing homes. The authors hypothesized that organizational and individual factors would influence staffintention to use new skills in practice. Pre- and post-training comparisons confirmed that staffgained knowledge about communication effectiveness. Staffreported high likelihood for using skills in practice based on modified Duke Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) Scale scores. Care organization was correlated with total DOI scores (r = 0.82, p < 0.01). DOI subscales correlations to organizational and individual attitudes are reported. Evaluating quality improvement interventions in relation to translation to practice is essential in today's nursing home environment. Copyright.