Dementia Communication Training Program for Novice Home Care Workers

Evaluation of a Dementia Communication Training Program Using a Real-time Interactive Virtual Trainer Among Novice Home Care Workers

This study aims to evaluate the effects of a dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer among novice home care workers.

This randomised controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of a dementia communication training program using a real-time interactive virtual trainer on dementia knowledge, communication skills, empathy, and competence of managing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among novice home care workers.

The virtual trainer (VT) group will receive the 8-week virtual trainer-based dementia communication training.

The control group will receive the 8-week scenario-based discussions dementia communication training.

Both groups will be assessed for their dementia knowledge, communication skills, empathy, and competence of managing BPSD at baseline, week 4, and week 18, and week 12.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Novice home care workers who had been employed in home care agencies for less than one year.
• ages ranging from 20 to 65 years,
• completed care worker training program
• Had not previously received any virtual trainer training.
• Taiwanese nationality
• provided informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• home care workers who do not meet the inclusion criteria