The impact of an educational intervention for elderly care nurses on care recipients’ and family relatives’ ratings of quality of care: A prospective, controlled intervention study

Abstract

Background Low competence levels among nursing staff have been associated with lower quality of elderly care. However, interventions aimed at improving nursing staff competence have not always been evaluated for their possible impact on the quality of elderly care. An educational intervention in the form of a workplace “toolbox” was shown to have positive effects on nursing staff competence and work satisfaction. It was therefore of interest to investigate whether the intervention had any effect on residents’ and/or their family members’ ratings of the quality of elderly care. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of an educational intervention for nursing staff on care recipients’ and their relatives’ ratings of the quality of elderly care. Design The study was a prospective, non-randomized, controlled intervention. Participants and settings Care recipients and their relatives in two elderly care organisations in Sweden. Methods Practical instruments and educational materials for improving staff competence and work practices were collated in a workplace “toolbox”, which was introduced in the intervention organisation in February of 2003. Care recipients and their relatives’ ratings of the quality of care were measured pre and post-intervention by questionnaire and compared to quality ratings in a reference organisation, where no toolbox was introduced. Results Neither care recipients’ nor relatives’ ratings of the quality of care changed significantly over time in the intervention organisation. Furthermore, there were no significant interaction effects over time between organisations for quality of care ratings. Methodological weaknesses, such as low response rates, may have influenced results. Conclusions The results of this study raise questions regarding the alleged positive association between staff competence and work satisfaction and care recipients’ perceptions of the quality of care.