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. 2012 Jun;60(6):1157-64.
doi: 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2012.03939.x. Epub 2012 May 29.

Distance coursework and coaching to improve nursing home incontinence care: lessons learned

Anna N Rahman  1 , John F Schnelle, Robert Applebaum, Kate Lindabury, Sandra Simmons
Affiliations

Distance coursework and coaching to improve nursing home incontinence care: lessons learned

Anna N Rahman et al. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: To determine whether a distance coaching course on improving nursing home incontinence care could be replicated and brought to scale with a larger group of nursing homes without sacrificing outcomes.

Design: The study collected descriptive and comparative data.

Setting: Fourteen nursing homes in the original course and 34 in the replication course.

Participants: Participants in the study were supervisors and staff from enrolled nursing homes who completed the distance coaching courses on incontinence management.

Measurements: Data for both courses were collected using a resident assessment form to evaluate implementation of new practices, pre- and posttraining quizzes, a course evaluation survey, and a supervisor's report.

Results: There were few significant differences between the course groups with respect to course participation, knowledge transfer, and training program preferences. Although Course 1 nursing homes reported assessing more residents on average than Course 2 homes (22 vs 12), this difference is probably an artifact of differences in the reporting methodologies for the two courses.

Conclusion: This study found qualified support for using a distance coaching course to facilitate adoption of evidence-based incontinence care practices in nursing homes. The findings also underscore the challenges associated with designing dissemination and implementation programs that are effective and feasible to implement with nursing homes. Nursing home educators should consider this study's findings when designing new training programs. Outcomes may improve if some dissemination resources are diverted to distance coaching activities that support nursing home improvement efforts over extended periods.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: The editor in chief has reviewed the conflict of interest checklist provided by the authors and has determined that the authors have no financial or any other kind of personal conflicts with this paper.

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