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Effectiveness of a training program for carers to recognize depression among older people
- Authors:
- McCABE Marita P., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 23(12), December 2008, pp.1290-1296.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Depression is a mental disorder that is frequently not detected among older people. The current study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program to assist carers to better recognize depression among older people in both community and residential care settings. In total, 52 professional carers (26 in community care, 26 in residential care) across a range of occupations completed a four session (for personal care attendants) or six session (for registered nurses or managers) training program. The program provided training for staff to identify and respond appropriately to signs of depression. In addition, nurses and managers were trained on the use of screening tools and referral processes. Outcomes were evaluated at post-test, and 6-month follow-up. The results demonstrated that for all groups training was effective in increasing carers' knowledge of depression and self-efficacy in detecting depression, as well as reducing the barriers to care at both post-test and 6-month follow-up. The training program evaluated in the current study was effective in increasing the level of skills necessary for care staff to better detect depression among older people in both community and residential care settings. Further research is needed to determine if these improved skills are sustained over time, and if they actually improve the level of recognition of depression among older people.
A randomized control trial to evaluate the beyondblue depression training program: does it lead to better recognition of depression?
- Authors:
- McCABE Marita P., et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 28(3), 2013, pp.221-226.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Because of the consequences of depression among older people, in terms of care needs, mortality and quality of life, early recognition and treatment is essential. It has been suggested that care staff could play a key role in this process. This randomised controlled trial was designed to discover if a depression training program could assist aged care staff to in recognising depression among older people in residential care. The use of a “paper trail” for a screening tool and a study champion were evaluated in combination with the training to discover whether this improved the level of detection. A total of 107 professional carers from residential aged care services in Melbourne participated in the study. The 34 carers allocated to the training-only group completed a six-session depression training program, 35 were allocated to the training-plus-screening protocol, and 38 to a wait-list control group. In total, 216 residents were screened. Residents were independently assessed with the SCID-I to determine their depression status. Trained staff were no better in detecting depression than non-trained staff. Staff in the training-plus-screening condition correctly identified more residents as depressed, but also classified more non-depressed residents as depressed. The results confirm the need for protocols to assist carers to detect, refer, and monitor depression in residents.
Consumer directed care in residential aged care: an evaluation of a staff training program
- Authors:
- McCABE Marita P., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 24(4), 2020, pp.673-678.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: The advent of Consumer-Directed Care (CDC, or individualized care) in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs, or residential care) will require a paradigm shift in service delivery. This article evaluated the six-session Resident at the Centre of Care (RCC) staff training program designed to equip staff to implement a CDC model of care among residents. Method: There were two experimental conditions: RCC training program alone, RCC training program plus support, and a ‘care as usual’ condition. Outcome measures were resident quality of life (QoL) and resident working relationships with staff at 3-month follow-up. At Time 1, 92 residents from RACFs participated in the program. The RCC is six sessions that focus on the development of staff skills in communicating with residents, as well as the organizational change and transformational leadership that is needed for the implementation of CDC. Results: There were significant improvements in resident QoL. There was no major difference between the RCC Program plus support condition compared to the RCC Program alone condition, but both were associated with more positive changes in resident QoL than the ‘care as usual’ condition. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that training staff in strategies to implement CDC in RACFs can lead to an improvement in the wellbeing of many residents, and that additional support to assist staff to implement the strategies may not be required to produce such improvements. Longer term follow-up is necessary to determine if the improvements in resident QoL are sustained. (Publisher abstract)