title: Evaluation of a caregiver education program to support memory and communication in dementia: a controlled pretest-posttest study with nursing home staff.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is a need for simple multimedia training programs designed to upskill the dementia care workforce. A DVD-based training program entitled RECAPS and MESSAGE has been designed to provide caregivers with strategies to support memory and communication in people with dementia.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the effects of the RECAPS and MESSAGE training on knowledge of support strategies, and caregiver satisfaction, in nursing home care staff, and (2) to evaluate staff opinion of the training.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-centre controlled pretest-posttest trial was conducted between June 2009 and January 2010, with baseline, immediately post-training and 3-month follow-up assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four nursing homes in Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  All care staff were invited to participate. Of the 68 participants who entered the study, 52 (37 training participants and 15 controls) completed outcome measures at baseline and 3-month follow-up. 63.5% of participants were nursing assistants, 25% were qualified nurses and 11.5% were recreational/activities officers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The training and control groups were compared on the following outcomes: (1) knowledge of memory and communication support strategies, and (2) caregiver satisfaction. In the training group, the immediate effects of training on knowledge, and the effects of role (nurse, nursing assistant, recreational staff) on both outcome measures, were also examined. Staff opinion of the training was assessed immediately post-training and at 3-month follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The training group showed a significant improvement in knowledge of support strategies from baseline to immediately post-training (p=0.001). Comparison of the training and control groups revealed a significant increase in knowledge for the training group (p=0.011), but not for the control group (p=0.33), between baseline and 3-month follow-up. Examination of caregiver satisfaction by care staff role in the training group revealed that only the qualified nurses showed higher levels of caregiver satisfaction at 3-month follow-up (p=0.013). Staff rated the training positively both for usefulness and applicability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RECAPS and MESSAGE training improved nursing home care staff's knowledge of support strategies for memory and communication, and gains were maintained at 3-month follow-up. Moreover, the training was well received by staff.
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Australia. ml.broughton@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broughton
authors.forename: Erin R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Rosemary
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Angwin
authors.forename: Nancy A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Pachana
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Copland
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallois
authors.forename: Gerard J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.forename: Helen J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chenery
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000592:standards*; D008568:Memory; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009740:Nursing Staff; D011793:Queensland; D000078329:Workforce