Dementia Communication Training for Novice Home Care Workers

This study is focused on improving the skills of new home care workers who care for people with dementia. It investigates whether a training program that uses a virtual trainer can enhance the caregivers' understanding of dementia, improve their communication abilities, increase their empathy, and boost their competence in handling the challenging behaviors often associated with dementia. Given the increasing number of individuals suffering from dementia, enhancing caregiver skills is crucial for providing better care and improving the quality of life for both patients and caregivers. Participants in this study are divided into two groups. One group undergoes an 8-week training with a real-time interactive virtual trainer, while the other group participates in 8-week scenario-based discussions. Both groups are evaluated on their dementia knowledge, communication skills, empathy, and ability to manage behavioral and psychological symptoms at the start, after 4 weeks, after 12 weeks, and at the end of the study at 18 weeks. The outcomes are measured using specific scales designed to assess communication skills and dementia knowledge, aiming to see which method is more effective in improving these essential skills.