Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-dnltx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T05:56:19.126Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A randomized controlled trial examining the impact of aged care residents’ written life-stories on aged care staff knowledge and attitudes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 December 2017

Michelle Dennerstein ,
Sunil S. Bhar  and
Jencie J. Castles
Michelle Dennerstein
Affiliation:
Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia
Sunil S. Bhar*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia
Jencie J. Castles
Affiliation:
Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Victoria, 3122, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Sunil S. Bhar, Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne University of Technology, Mail H99, PO Box 218 Hawthorn, Vic 3122, Australia. Phone: +613 9214 8371; Fax +613 9819 0821. Email: sbhar@swin.edu.au.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

The unprecedented increase in the number of older adults moving into aged care facilities has created a challenge for quality person-centered care service provision. This study examined the impact of written life-stories on knowledge and attitudes of care staff about the residents when compared to usual file notes.

Methods:

A randomized controlled study was carried out with 40 staff working in an aged care residential facility. Staff were randomly assigned to a control condition, in which they read file notes (n = 21) or to an experimental condition, in which they read life stories (n = 19) about residents who they knew, and completed the Knowledge of Resident Scale (KRS) before and after their assigned reading.

Results:

A main effect for time was found for eight of the ten questions on the KRS, suggesting that irrespective of whether a participant read life stories or file notes, there was a significantly positive impact on knowledge and attitudes toward residents. However, significantly greater improvement was shown for one item on the KRS in the experimental condition when compared to the control condition, indicating that historical knowledge of residents was greater when staff read life stories than when they read file notes, F (1,38) = 6.50, p = 0.02.

Conclusion:

These results provide preliminary evidence that knowledge and attitudes of care staff can increase about the residents for whom they care following reading file notes and life stories. The increase is similar, except in the area of historical information, where it is greater for the group who read life stories.

Keywords

life storiesstaff knowledge and attitudesperson-centered care
Type
Original Research Article
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 30 , Issue 9: Issue Theme: Quality of Care for Frail Older Adults , September 2018 , pp. 1291 - 1299
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Registered with Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR). http://www.anzctr.org.au/ Allocated ACTRN: 12616001137482

References

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2015). Use of aged care services before death. Data linkage series no. 19. Cat. no. CSI 21. Canberra: AIHW.Google Scholar
Bennett, M. K., Ward, E. C. and Scarinci, N. A. (2016). Exploratory investigation of communication management in residential-aged care: a comparison of staff knowledge, documentation and observed resident–staff communication. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders, 51, 296–309.Google Scholar
Bergman-Evans, B. (2004). Beyond the basics: effects of the Eden Alternative model on quality of life issues. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 30, 27–34.Google Scholar
Bhar, S., Silver, M., Collins, R., Bhowmik, J., Dalziel, F and Stargatt, J. (2017). The effects of digital life stories on the knowledge and attitudes of residential aged care staff: a pilot study. Manuscript submitted for publication.Google Scholar
Brownie, S. and Nancarrow, S. (2013). Effects of person-centered care on residents and staff in aged-care facilities: a systematic review. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 8, 1–10.Google Scholar
Clarke, A., Hanson, E. and Ross, H. (2003). Seeing the person behind the patient: enhancing the care of older people using a biographical approach. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 12, 697–706.Google Scholar
Edvardsson, D., Sandman, P. O., Nay, R. and Karlsson, S. (2009). Predictors of job strain in residential dementia care nursing staff. Journal of Nursing Management, 17, 59–65.Google Scholar
George, D. and Mallery, M. (2003). Using SPSS for Windows Step by Step: A Simple Guide and Reference. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.Google Scholar
Heliker, D. (1997). A narrative approach to quality care in long term care facilities. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 15, 68–81.Google Scholar
McAdams, D. P. and McLean, K. C. (2013). Narrative identity. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 22, 233–238.Google Scholar
McAdams, D. P. and Pals, J. L. (2006). A new big five: fundamental principles for an integrative science of personality. American Psychologist, 61, 204–217.Google Scholar
McKee, K., Wilson, F., Elford, H., Goudie, F., Chung, M. and Bolton, G. (2002). Evaluating the Impact of Reminiscence on the quality of life of older people. Sheffield: Sheffield Institute for studies on Ageing.Google Scholar
McKeown, J., Clarke, A. and Repper, J. (2006). Life story work in health and social care: systematic literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 55, 237–247.Google Scholar
McKeown, J., Clarke, A., Ingleton, C., Ryan, T. and Repper, J. (2010). The use of life story work with people with dementia to enhance person-centred care. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 5, 148–158.Google Scholar
McSweeney, K. and O'Connor, D. W. (2008). Depression among newly admitted Australian nursing home residents. International Psychogeriatrics, 20, 724–737.Google Scholar
Seitz, D., Purandare, N. and Conn, D. (2010). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among older adults in long-term care homes: a systematic review. International Psychogeriatrics, 22, 1025–1039.Google Scholar
Sjögren, K., Lindkvist, M., Sandman, P. O., Zingmark, K. and Edvardsson, D. (2013). To what extent is the work environment of staff related to person-centred care? A cross-sectional study of residential aged care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24, 1310–1319.Google Scholar
Wills, T. and Day, M. R. (2008). Valuing the person's story: use of life story books in a continuing care setting. Clinical Interventions in Aging, 3, 547.Google Scholar