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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Mar;30(2):130-8.
doi: 10.1177/1533317514550331. Epub 2014 Sep 18.

Supporting direct care workers in dementia care: effects of a psychoeducational intervention

Ana Barbosa  1 , Mike Nolan  2 , Liliana Sousa  3 , Daniela Figueiredo  4
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Supporting direct care workers in dementia care: effects of a psychoeducational intervention

Ana Barbosa et al. Am J Alzheimers Dis Other Demen. 2015 Mar.

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.

Keywords: burnout; dementia; direct care workers; job satisfaction; person-centered care; stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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