title: Supporting direct care workers in dementia care: effects of a psychoeducational intervention.
abstract: An experimental study using a pre-posttest control group design was conducted to assess the effects of a person-centered care-based psychoeducational intervention on direct care workers' stress, burnout, and job satisfaction. The intervention aimed to develop person-centered care competences and tools for stress management. Four aged care facilities were randomly assigned to a psychoeducational or an education-only intervention (control). Data were collected from 56 direct care workers (female, mean age 44.72 ± 9.02) through measurements of burnout (Maslach Burnout Inventory), job satisfaction (Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire-short form), and stress (Perceived Stress Scale) and focus-group interviews. Results showed significant positive effects in emotional exhaustion (P = .029) and positive but no significant effects in stress and job satisfaction. According to qualitative data, the experimental group perceived enhanced group cohesion, emotional management, and self-care awareness. Psychoeducational interventions may contribute to reduce direct care workers' burnout. Further work is needed to determine the extent of its benefits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal anabarbosa@ua.pt.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Ageing, Rehabilitation, Education and Research (CARER), School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal Unidade de Investigação e Formação sobre Adultos e Idosos (UNIFAI), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Investigação e Formação sobre Adultos e Idosos (UNIFAI), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal School of Health Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: burnout; dementia; direct care workers; job satisfaction; person-centered care; stress