None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Work4Dementia is a novel evidence-based intervention that aims to improve the capacity and resilience of the aged and dementia care workforce. The intervention will include an organisational component addressing change readiness with workplace leaders. This will be followed by a shared practice group for employees involved in direct care. The employee component of the intervention will cover topics including capacity and resilience in care work, understanding dementia and communication, the power of social connections and strengths to cope with emotionally demanding jobs. This study will use a waitlist controlled trial design to pilot test the intervention in two aged care organisations in Australia focusing on the acceptability and feasibility of implementing the intervention. Qualitative interviews and focus groups, and quantitative audits of participation data will be undertaken to assess this and explore perceived enablers and barriers to the intervention. This study will also include a preliminary assessment of the efficacy of this intervention to reduce job stress, enhance work engagement, reduce turnover and improve quality care. Study participants will include managers and direct care workers of the participating organisations, care recipients and those who support them. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires will be used to assess the impact of the intervention and interviews and focus groups will explore perceptions of whether any care changes occurred.
Interventions
The Work4Dementia intervention is a new training intervention for the aged and dementia care workforce that includes both organisational and employee based components. Work4Dementia has been designed specifically for this study using co-design principles and is described in a facilitator guidebook. The content has been informed by positive psychology, focused on personal and organisational strengths and growth. The whole of the Work4Dementia program will be delivered online by a trained facilita
The Work4Dementia intervention is a new training intervention for the aged and dementia care workforce that includes both organisational and employee based components. Work4Dementia has been designed specifically for this study using co-design principles and is described in a facilitator guidebook. The content has been informed by positive psychology, focused on personal and organisational strengths and growth. The whole of the Work4Dementia program will be delivered online by a trained facilitator over six weeks. The organisational component of the intervention includes i) management orientation (15 minute welcome video + 15 minute change readiness assessment + 2 x 30 minute meetings over the first two weeks), and ii) allocation of a workplace champion and iii) mentor support (4 x 30 minute meetings between champion and facilitator to address actions raised by the shared practice group over the final four weeks). The role of the workplace champion is to undertake essential communication between multiple stakeholders within the organisation to promote building capacity and resilience in care work. A detailed position description on the role of the champion is included in the facilitator guidebook. The employee component is called the ‘shared practice group’ (4 x 1.5 hours weekly group meetings with maximum of 30 care workers per session) and begins in week three (after the orientation). Adult learning principles will be applied. Mode of delivery is interactive activities, short videos, stress and coping strategies, with handout materials summarising key points that provide skills to practice in between sessions. The topics covered include capacity and resilience in care work, understanding dementia and communication, the power of social connections and coping with emotionally demanding jobs.
Sponsors
University of Tasmania
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Organisations- providing aged care services in Australia Managers- 1) currently employed by one of the aged care organisation participating in the trial; 2) currently employed in a managerial role (responsible for operation and supervision of staff) Care workers- 1) currently employed by one of the aged care organisation participating in the trial; 2) currently providing care or support to older people with and/or without dementia in their work role Care recipients- 1) aged 65 years or older; 2) currently receiving care or support from the participating organisation; 3) currently receiving care from one of the care workers participating in the intervention Support people for care recipients- 1) someone who provides informal support (such as a family member or friend) to a care recipient who is participating in the study
Exclusion criteria
Managers and care workers- 1) persons under the aged of 18 years; 2) people highly dependent on medical care or unable to give consent; 3) people whose English language skills preclude them from completing the intervention and participating in an interview Care recipients- 1) people whose English language skills preclude them from participating in an interview; 2) people with a speech or hearing impairment or level of cognitive impairment that will prevent them from participating in an interview Support people for care recipients- 1) persons under the aged of 18 years; 2) people highly dependent on medical care or unable to give consent; 3) people whose English language skills preclude them from participating in a focus group discussion; 4) people with a speech or hearing impairment or level of cognitive impairment that will prevent them from participating in an interview
Outcome results
None listed