title: Evaluation of the sustained implementation of a mental health learning initiative in long-term care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper describes an innovative education program for the management of mental health problems in long-term care (LTC) homes and the evaluation of its longer-term sustainability. Since 1998, the "Putting the P.I.E.C.E.S. Together" learning initiative has been providing education sessions and related learning strategies aimed at developing the knowledge and skills of health professionals who care for older persons with complex physical and mental health needs and associated behaviors, in Ontario, Canada. A major focus of this province-wide initiative was the development of in-house Psychogeriatric Resource Persons (PRPs). Evaluation of this initiative included the completion of pre- and post-education questionnaires (over three data collection time periods) assessing learner confidence (N = 1,024 and 792, for pre- and post-education, respectively) and session evaluation questionnaires gathering feedback on the session (N = 2,029 across all sessions). A survey of LTC homes in Ontario (N = 439, 79% of the homes in the province) was conducted to assess longer-term sustainability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ratings of the sessions indicated that they were relevant to learners' clinical practice. There were significant increases in ratings of ability to recognize and understand challenging behaviors and mental health problems, and in ability to use a variety of assessment tools. Few homes (15%) do not have a PRP; over 50% of the staff who completed the first session in 1999 continue to serve as a PRP and to apply learned skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A learning initiative with supportive and reinforcing strategies can develop in-house PRPs to enhance the care of the elderly in LTC. Incorporation of PRP functions into job descriptions and management support contributed to the success of this initiative. This study highlights the importance of work environments that support and reinforce the use of learned skills to the success of continuing education and quality improvement initiatives in LTC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. mcaineyc@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Carrie A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: McAiney
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stolee
authors.forename: Loretta M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Madsen
authors.forename: J Kenneth
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Le Clair
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods; D007858:Learning; D008134:Long-Term Care; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009864:Ontario; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching