Communication training packages for aged-care workers.
Summary by: sallyz
What did the researchers aim to find out?
To describe communication training programs for aged care workers.
This includes what information is taught, and how it is taught.
What type of research was done?
A scoping review.
- A scoping review searches for all the research on a topic.
- It shows what we know and what we don't know.
- It finds gaps where more research is needed.
Results of the research
- Most (79%) of the communication programs trained people to communicate better with people with specific communication needs, like dementia or aphasia.
- No communication programs were found that trained people to communicate better with people of different cultures and languages.
- Only nine percent (9%) of communication programs trained people to communicate better with people of different age groups.
- This information means that there is a need for a communication training program for care staff in aged-care settings.
- This program needs to train people to communicate better with older people in aged care with complex communication support needs.
- It is important that the program measures changes for people with communication support needs and aged-care workers to make sure that the program helps both the aged-care workers and older persons.
Why was the research done?
- Aged-care staff have an important job supporting older people with communication support needs.
- However, many care staff need to learn skills to communicate well with people of different ages, cultures, and health conditions.
- Communication training programs can teach communication skills to aged-care staff.
- But it isn't known if current communication training programs work well for aged-care staff or older people with communication support needs.
What does the research mean for me and others?
- This study found a gap in communication training for aged-care workers.
- The gap is a need for a new training program that will support aged-care workers to communicate better with older people living in aged-care settings.
What research methods were used?
A scoping review.
- A scoping review searches for all the research on a topic.
- It shows what we know and what we don't know.
- It finds gaps where more research is needed.
How to obtain the treatment detailed in the research?
n/a
Background information on the research topic
- Aged-care staff have an important job supporting older people with communication support needs.
- However, many care staff need to learn skills to communicate well with people of different ages, cultures, and health conditions.
- Communication training programs can teach communication skills to aged-care staff.
- But it isn't known if current communication training programs work well for aged-care staff or older people with communication support needs.
Risks related to the research
There were no risks related to the research.
Who was allowed to take part in the research?
- This research looks at all the current research on a topic.
- This research did not involve people.
Information about the people who took part
This research looks at all the current research on a topic.
To be included, research had to:
- Report on a communication training program.
- Deliver the communication training program to healthcare professionals, aged-care workers, students, or formal carers.
- Aim to improve communication with older people with communication support needs.
- Report in English.
Why was the research done this way?
- To find out if current communication training programs work well for aged-care staff and older people with communication support needs.
- To understand what is taught and how it is taught in current communication training programs.
When was the research done?
- This review included studies that were done between 1992 to 2023.
- Most (63%) studies were done between 2016 and 2023.
Where was the research done?
- This research was done by reviewing existing studies online.
Where did the money came from?
This research was supported by:
- A Medical Research Future Fund grant awarded to Associate Professor Sarah J Wallace (2015728).
- A Research Training Program grant awarded to Bridget Burton.
- Fellowship funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council received by Associate Professor Sarah J Wallace (1175821) and Dr Kirstine Shrubsole (2026816).
Problems with the research
- The researchers could not read all the training materials.
- The researchers could only read training materials that were public.
- Different countries use different names for aged-care services and older people with communication support needs.
- This means there may be some information about communication training programs that the researchers could not review.
Is the research trustworthy?
Yes. This research followed two research processes:
- The Joanna Briggs Manual for Evidence Synthesis, and
- The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews.
Next steps
There is a need for a new communication training program. The new program should:
- Include information about communicating with people with communication support needs from any health condition.
- Be specific to communicating with older adults living in aged-care settings.
- Cover the learning needs of people working in aged-care settings.
- Be easy for aged-care workers to complete.
Where to find information related to the research?
- A list of words and their meanings used by the Australian Government Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission: Glossary | Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
- A fact sheet about people's care needs in aged care: People-s-care-needs-in-aged-care-fact-sheet_2023-24.pdf
- A fact sheet about the aged care workforce: 2023 Aged Care Provider Workforce Survey: Summary report - AIHW Gen