The Effectiveness of a Capacity-Building Program for Formal Caregivers in Caring for Dependent Older Adults in Nong Bua Lamphu Province
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Abstract
This quasi-experimental study employed a two-group pretest–posttest design to examine the effects of a capacity-building program for formal caregivers of dependent older adults on caregivers’ knowledge, caregiving ability, role satisfaction, and older adults’ satisfaction with the care received. The participants consisted of formal caregivers who completed a 420-hour caregiver training program and dependent older adults residing in Nong Bua Lamphu Province. The sample was divided into an experimental group and a comparison group, with 32 caregiver–older adult dyads in each group. The intervention was a capacity-building program for formal caregivers developed based on Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory. Data were collected using questionnaires administered to formal caregivers and older adults. The caregiver questionnaires demonstrated good reliability, with a KR-20 coefficient of .91 and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of .98 for caregiving ability and caregiver role satisfaction. The older adults’ satisfaction questionnaire showed a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .90. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and independent and paired t-tests.
The results revealed that, after participating in the program, formal caregivers in the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher levels of knowledge, caregiving ability, and caregiver role satisfaction compared with their pretest scores (t = 8.97, 22.99, 27.70; p < .001). Additionally, these outcomes were significantly higher than those of the comparison group (t = 9.05, 22.57, 26.64, p < .001). Furthermore, older adults in the experimental group reported significantly higher satisfaction with the care received than those in the comparison group (t = 23.35, p < .001).
The findings suggest that the capacity-building program is effective in enhancing caregiving outcomes and satisfaction and may be applied in other areas with similar contexts, particularly among older adults with chronic conditions.
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