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Learning Objective 1: understand the process of developing a empowering “self-learning handbook by using participatory action research.
Learning Objective 2: understand effects of a empowering “self-learning handbook for improving nurses' work empowerment in community-based long-term care facilities.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an empowering “self-learning handbook” for improving nurses's work empowerment including both psychological and structural empowerment in community-based LTC facilities in Taipei, Taiwan
Methods: A participatory action research (PAR) was used to assess nurses’ needs, barriers, and preferences for receiving continuum education. A “self-learning handbook” has been developed in order to meet nurses’ practical needs in this educational material that could be used by them at their workplaces. Seventy-four nurses in 65 community-based LTC facilities participated in this study. Thirty-five and thirty-nine nurses were placed into receiving and without receiving educational group, respectively.
Results: The results showed that this empowering “self-learning handbook” did increase nurses’ self-efficacy in psychological empowerment significantly (paired t = -2.22, p = .033). Nurses without receiving educational intervention had significantly a lower support level in their structural empowerment (paired t = 3.25, p = .003). From results of process evaluation, nurses re-dined their professional roles in community-based LTC and gain competences in knowledge and skills in elderly care.
Conclusion: Effects of an empowering “self-learning handbook” on both psychological and structural empowerment for nurses in community-based LTC facilities have been shown and their slef-efficacy has increased significantly. Suggestions of this study were to define nursing roles in LTC setting and include the updated knowledge and skills for performing these roles into the curriculum for both nursing education and continuum education.