title: Evaluation of a training program to assist care staff to better recognize and manage depression among palliative care patients and their families.
abstract: This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a training program to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy of palliative care staff and thus enable them to better detect and manage depression among palliative care patients and their families. Participants were 90 professional carers who completed a four-session training program. Knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and barriers to working with depressed patients were assessed preintervention, post-intervention, and at a three-month follow-up. The results demonstrated that compared to the control group, the intervention group had improved in all of these areas. Improvements were maintained at the three-month follow-up in all areas except attitudes. The results of this study indicate the importance of training in managing depression among palliative care staff. Booster sessions will likely be needed to ensure that training program gains are maintained.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia. marita.mccabe@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: Marita R P
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldhammer
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mellor
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hallford
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davison
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires