Evaluating a National Person-Centered Training Program to Strengthen the Dementia Care Workforce
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age18+
SponsorUniversity of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
About this trial
This project will compare two training models of an evidence-based online dementia care training program for direct care staff in assisted living to a waitlist control: 1) essentiALZ training and 2) essentiALZ training + Project ECHO. It will examine the extent to which each model is implemented and achieves its intended outcomes to improve staff knowledge and attitudes, change care practices, and improve the wellbeing of staff, residents, and residents' family members. Results will inform next steps in dementia care training for the assisted living (AL) and broader long-term care workforce.
To examine these outcomes, data will be collected from AL staff and families over the course of 6 months. Staff will complete questionnaires and participate in interviews (as applicable) at baseline, post-training, 3-months, and 6-months. Families will participate in interviews at baseline, 3-months, and 6-months.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
Staff (part-time, full-time, and including contract staff) who provide direct care to residents at the participating assisted living community (e.g., certified nursing assistants, personal care aides, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, activity directors, social workers, and others) as determined by the administrator/health care supervisor
Are 18 years of age or older
Are able to read and speak English fluently
Resident not expected to die or be transferred in the next six months at baseline
Disqualifiers
None
Trial design
Design model
Parallel
Treatments tested in this trial
essentiALZ
BehavioralessentiALZ is a web-based training that contains three hours of self-paced content separated into five modules, plus a final review. Modules include: 1) Alzheimer's disease and dementia; 2) person-centered care; 3) assessment and care planning; 4) activities of daily living; and 5) behaviors and communication. Staff will be encouraged to take the training over the course of four weeks.
Project ECHO
BehavioralECHO is a virtual tele-mentoring model grounded in case-based learning. It includes six weekly one-hour sessions of didactic and discussive learning. The first five sessions will reflect the content of the five essentiALZ modules, and the final session will address maintenance. ECHO sessions are group sessions that will be conducted via Zoom.
Treatment groups
1,764 Participants
are divided into 3 treatment groupsGroup A: essentiALZExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: essentiALZ + ECHOExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group C: No InterventionNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Change in Score Over Time of Sense of Competence in Dementia Care (SCIDS)
Sense of Competence in Dementia Care (SCIDS) is a 17-item instrument. Responses are indicated using a 4-point Likert scale. Minimum score (worst value) = 1. Maximum score (best value) = 4. Higher values represent a better outcome (range 17-68). Measure is assessed at Baseline Questionnaire, a 3-month Follow Up Questionnaire and at a 6-month Follow Up Questionnaire.
Time frame
Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention and 6 additional months after the intervention ends, an expected average of 8 months2
Change in Score Over Time of Staff Experience of Working with Residents with Dementia Questionnaire - Care Organization, Satisfactory Contact with the Patient, and Satisfaction with the Expectations of Others Subscales (SEWDRQ)
Staff Experience of Working with Residents with Dementia Questionnaire - Care Organization, Satisfactory Contact with the Patient, and Satisfaction with the Expectations of Others Subscales (SEWDRQ) is a 9-item instrument. Responses are indicated using a 5-point Likert scale. Minimum score (worst value) = 0. Maximum score (best value) = 4. Higher values represent a better outcome (range 0-36). Measure is assessed at Baseline Questionnaire, a 3-month Follow Up Questionnaire and at a 6-month Follow Up Questionnaire.
Time frame
Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention and 6 additional months after the intervention ends, an expected average of 8 months3
Change in Score Over Time of Dementia Attitude Scale - Short Form (DAS-6)
Dementia Attitudes Scale (Short-Form) is a 6-item instrument. Responses are indicated using a 7-point Likert scale. Minimum score (worst value) = 1. Maximum score (best value) = 7. Higher values represent a better outcome (range 6-42). Measure is assessed at Baseline Questionnaire, a 3-month Follow Up Questionnaire and at a 6-month Follow Up Questionnaire.
Time frame
Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention and 6 additional months after the intervention ends, an expected average of 8 monthsSecondary outcomes
1
Change in Score Over Time of essentiALZ exam items
essentiALZ exam items is a 5-item instrument. Instrument is a measure of knowledge on the subject of the intervention training. Responses are multiple choice, with only one answer per question considered 'correct'. Higher values of correct responses represent a better outcome/retention of knowledge (range 0-5). Measure is assessed at Baseline Questionnaire, Post-Training Questionnaire, a 3-month Follow Up Questionnaire and at a 6-month Follow Up Questionnaire.
Time frame
Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention and 6 additional months after the intervention ends, an expected average of 8 months2
Change in Score Over Time of essentiALZ organizational practices
essentiALZ exam items is a 5-item instrument. Instrument is a measure of knowledge on the subject of the intervention training. Responses are multiple choice, with only one answer per question considered 'correct'. Higher values of correct responses represent a better outcome/retention of knowledge (range 0-5). Measure is assessed at Baseline Questionnaire, a 3-month Follow Up Questionnaire and at a 6-month Follow Up Questionnaire.
Time frame
Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention and 6 additional months after the intervention ends, an expected average of 8 months3
Change in Score Over Time of Emotional Burnout
The researchers will assess intent to leave job by asking "Overall, based on your definition of burnout, how would you rate your level of burnout? Select one." Response options are: "1 = I enjoy my work. I have no symptoms of burnout.", "2 = Occasionally I am under stress, and I don't always have as much energy as I once did, but I don't feel burned out.", "3 - I am definitely burning out and have one or more symptoms of burnout, such as physical and emotional exhaustion.", "4 = The symptoms of burnout that I'm experiencing won't go away. I think about frustration at work a lot.", "5 = I feel completely burned out and often wonder if I can go on. I am at the point where I may need some changes or may need to seek some sort of help." Minimum = 1 (best value), maximum = 5 (worst value). Measure is assessed at Baseline Questionnaire, a 3-month Follow Up Questionnaire and at a 6-month Follow Up Questionnaire.
Time frame
Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention and 6 additional months after the intervention ends, an expected average of 8 months4
Change in Score Over Time of Intention to Leave
The researchers will assess intent to leave job by asking "How likely is it that you will leave this job in the next year? "Would you say... 1 is Not at All Likely, 2 is Somewhat Likely, 3 is Very Likely." Minimum = 1 (best value), maximum = 3 (worst value). Measure is assessed at Baseline Questionnaire, a 3-month Follow Up Questionnaire and at a 6-month Follow Up Questionnaire.
Time frame
Participants will be followed for the duration of the intervention and 6 additional months after the intervention ends, an expected average of 8 monthsSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lead sponsor
Alzheimer's Association
Collaborator
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov