Development and evaluation of a person-centered dementia care education program for nursing home staff

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and evaluate the effects of a person-centered dementia care education program on Korean nursing home staff. Methods: The person-centered dementia care education program was developed and evaluated using cluster-randomized, single-blind, and controlled pretest-posttest design. A total of 62 nursing home staff (31 in the experimental group and 31 in the control group) from four nursing homes participated in this study. The experimental group received the person-centered dementia care education program and the control group did not receive the education program. Data were collected before and after the educational intervention. Results: The person-centered dementia care education program comprised two sessions (one classroom-based education and one online education). Staff in the experimental group showed high level of satisfaction toward the education program. There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in staff’s personhood in dementia (F=4.53, p=.038). There were no significant differences between groups in staff’s person-directed care (F=1.61, p=.209), person-centered climate (F=0.22, p=.644), attitude towards dementia (F=3.51, p=.066), and knowledge about dementia (F=0.55, p=.461). Conclusion: The results showed the person-centered dementia care education program effectively improved staff’s personhood in dementia. Future studies are required to explore the program’s effects in other dementia care settings and on family caregivers of elders with dementia using more rigorous research methods.