Promoting mealtime support for people with dementia: a pilot study of feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an educational intervention for direct care workers

Résumé fourni par la source

This mixed-methods single-arm repeated measures pilot study aimed to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of an educational intervention designed to address mealtime challenges experienced by people with dementia and direct care workers. Feasibility was evaluated based on the screening, eligibility, consent, retention, and completion rates, as well as intervention adherence. Acceptability was assessed through a satisfaction questionnaire. As secondary outcomes, the study measured burnout, job satisfaction, feeding skills, and knowledge about dementia and mealtime support needs among direct care workers. For residents with dementia, the evaluation included assessments of food intake, time spent on a meal, and mealtime support needs. All feasibility rates were excellent, with the majority reaching 100%, except for the screening rate which was 89%. 81.3% of the direct care workers expressed high levels of satisfaction with the intervention. Qualitative analysis showed that participants appreciated the intervention, emphasizing its relevance and positive impact on their daily work. The results showed a significant decrease (p = .016, W = 0.265) in the burnout personal accomplishment subscale, an increase in job satisfaction (p = .001, W = 0.862) and in the knowledge test (p = .002, W = 2.571). The other outcomes were not statistically significant, despite having moderate and large effect sizes. The results suggested that the educational intervention is likely to be feasible and acceptable for direct care workers. Further research with a more robust study design and larger sample size is recommended to validate these findings and determine the extent of its benefits.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.