Design: The program, based on adult learning theory, intended to strengthen nursing workers' capability of providing psychosocial care and managing problematic behaviors, and ultimately promote institutional care quality. A quasi-experimental study design was used to assess, before, after and 3 months after the intervention of the program, working staff's competence in managing the elder's behavior problems and their attitudes toward the elders.

Population: In 2002, the nursing staff from six nursing homes located at northern Taiwan, including 35 registered nurses and 93 nursing aids, all female, had been recruited to this study using convenience sampling. And, they were divided into the experimental and the control groups. Two groups were generally matching in terms of their organizational nature and demographic character.

Findings: The program effectively improved the working staff's knowledge and competency on managing the resident's problematic behaviors. The attitude toward the residents' behaviors seemed more positive, although the change was insignificant statistically. When residents' problematic behaviors appeared, more interaction and better communication between the nurse aids and RN were found.

Implications: This self-directed learning program seemed applicable to the training of those nursing staff who worked in long-term care facilities. It empowers the staff's competence in managing the residents' problematic behaviors, and it helps them acquire positive attitude toward the people they care. However, all the nursing staff need to share their feelings and experiences about resident's behavior management, and more importantly, they need tremendous support from co-workers as well as administrative level. The VCD presenting the management of resident's problematic behaviors could benefit nursing staff in the nursing homes as an in-service education.

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Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004