Feasibility of a mobile meal assistance program for direct care workers in long-term care facilities in South Korea

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and examine the prelimin-ary effectiveness of a mobile application-based meal assistant training program (APP) for use by direct care workers (CAs) assisting residents with dementia in long-term care facilities in South Korea. Methods: We adopted a mixed methods research design, which included a pre-and post-intervention study and focus group interviews for the feasibility assessment. Participants included 23 dyads of older adults with dementia and their CAs from a long-term care facility in South Korea. Upon completion of the APP intervention, focused group interviews were conducted with six CAs and five nurses. Results: The results of paired t-tests showed that the effects of the APP intervention on the older adults with dementia and their CAs were not significant; however, the results of the focused group interviews support the potential usefulness of the APP for CAs. Conclusion: The APP may be applicable to long-term care workers who need meal assistant skills education.