Effectiveness of Continuing Education in Long-Term Care: A Literature Review

Abstract

There is a need for further rigorous research on the effectiveness of continuing education in long-term care, with systematic attention to the role of organizational and system factors.

The Perception of “Training Availability” Among Certified Nurse Aides: Relationship to CNA Performance, Turnover, Attitudes, Burnout, and Empowerment

“…This finding is somewhat puzzling given that CNA training is typically designed to improve CNA skills and knowledge. However, several studies have found that training received can sometimes be difficult to transfer into skills and knowledge actually used on the job (Broad, 1997;Aylward, et al, 2003). To the extent that CNA training was not easily transferred into skills and knowledge that could be actually used to improve resident care, the data are likely to show little relationship between training and self-reported efficacy.…”

“…The Perception of "Training Availability" Among Certified Nurse Aides: Relationship to CNA Performance, Turnover, Attitudes, Burnout, and Empowerment It wasn't until the mid to late 1980s that professionals of long-term care began to recognize a paramount need for the training of those who provide direct care to nursing home residents (Burgio & Burgio, 1990;Aylward, Stolee, Keat & Johncox, 2003). This recognition came as a result of a paradigm shift in thinking from a custodial model of care to a therapeutic or medical model that emphasized restorative or rehabilitative care.…”

“…Broad (1997) has suggested that only 10-30% of training activity is actually transferred into practice. Aylward, et al (2003) in their review of 48 training evaluation studies have concluded that there is minimal evidence that knowledge gained from training programs is sustained over time. They find that part of the problem is the lack of follow-up evaluations that could document positive effects.…”

Educating staff working in long-term care about delirium: The Trojan horse for improving quality of care?

“…We developed a draft intervention based on the research evidence for effective interventions for delirium [20][21][22][23][32][33][34], and for changing practice [4,5,27,[35][36][37][38].…”

“…Moreover, with increasingly frail and physically unwell residents [3], there is a concern that the education and training of staff has not kept pace with the changing demands and role [4], particularly because much of the care is delivered by non-nursing trained staff. In addition, recruitment difficulties have led to efforts to attract trained staff from overseas [5] who, although usually highly trained, may have had little experience of working in long-term care or with older people.…”