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Evaluation of an educational "toolbox" for improving nursing staff competence and psychosocial work environment in elderly care: Results of a prospective, non-randomized controlled intervention

Arnetz, J and Hasson, Henna LU (2007) In International Journal of Nursing Studies 44(5). p.723-735
Abstract
Background: Lack of professional development opportunities among nursing staff is a major concern in elderly care and has been associated with work dissatisfaction and staff turnover. There is a lack of prospective, controlled studies evaluating the effects of educational interventions on nursing competence and work satisfaction. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of an educational "toolbox" intervention on nursing staff ratings of their competence, psychosocial work environment and overall work satisfaction. Design: The study was a prospective, non-randomized, controlled intervention. Participants and settings: Nursing staff in two municipal elderly care organizations in western Sweden. Methods: In an... (More)
Background: Lack of professional development opportunities among nursing staff is a major concern in elderly care and has been associated with work dissatisfaction and staff turnover. There is a lack of prospective, controlled studies evaluating the effects of educational interventions on nursing competence and work satisfaction. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of an educational "toolbox" intervention on nursing staff ratings of their competence, psychosocial work environment and overall work satisfaction. Design: The study was a prospective, non-randomized, controlled intervention. Participants and settings: Nursing staff in two municipal elderly care organizations in western Sweden. Methods: In an initial questionnaire survey, nursing staff in the intervention municipality described several areas in which they felt a need for competence development. Measurement instruments and educational materials for improving staff knowledge and work practices were then collated by researchers and managers in a "toolbox." Nursing staff ratings of their competence and work were measured pre and post-intervention by questionnaire. Staff ratings in the intervention municipality were compared to staff ratings in the reference municipality, where no toolbox was introduced. Results: Nursing staff ratings of their competence and psychosocial work environment, including overall work satisfaction, improved significantly over time in the intervention municipality, compared to the reference group. Both competence and work environment ratings were largely unchanged among reference municipality staff. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between municipalities over time for nursing staff ratings of participation, leadership, performance feedback and skills' development. Staff ratings for these four scales improved significantly in the intervention municipality as compared to the reference municipality. Conclusions: Compared to a reference municipality, nursing staff ratings of their competence and the psychosocial work environment improved in the municipality where the toolbox was introduced. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
training, competence development, elderly care, intervention, staff, work satisfaction, nursing
in
International Journal of Nursing Studies
volume
44
issue
5
pages
723 - 735
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000247990000009
  • scopus:34249983148
  • pmid:16563398
ISSN
1873-491X
DOI
10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.01.012
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: The Vårdal Institute (016540000)
id
4c2e25f4-e1cc-461a-9248-c67317d52b91 (old id 645709)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:22:10
date last changed
2022-01-27 02:48:39
@article{4c2e25f4-e1cc-461a-9248-c67317d52b91,
  abstract     = {{Background: Lack of professional development opportunities among nursing staff is a major concern in elderly care and has been associated with work dissatisfaction and staff turnover. There is a lack of prospective, controlled studies evaluating the effects of educational interventions on nursing competence and work satisfaction. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effects of an educational "toolbox" intervention on nursing staff ratings of their competence, psychosocial work environment and overall work satisfaction. Design: The study was a prospective, non-randomized, controlled intervention. Participants and settings: Nursing staff in two municipal elderly care organizations in western Sweden. Methods: In an initial questionnaire survey, nursing staff in the intervention municipality described several areas in which they felt a need for competence development. Measurement instruments and educational materials for improving staff knowledge and work practices were then collated by researchers and managers in a "toolbox." Nursing staff ratings of their competence and work were measured pre and post-intervention by questionnaire. Staff ratings in the intervention municipality were compared to staff ratings in the reference municipality, where no toolbox was introduced. Results: Nursing staff ratings of their competence and psychosocial work environment, including overall work satisfaction, improved significantly over time in the intervention municipality, compared to the reference group. Both competence and work environment ratings were largely unchanged among reference municipality staff. Multivariate analysis revealed a significant interaction effect between municipalities over time for nursing staff ratings of participation, leadership, performance feedback and skills' development. Staff ratings for these four scales improved significantly in the intervention municipality as compared to the reference municipality. Conclusions: Compared to a reference municipality, nursing staff ratings of their competence and the psychosocial work environment improved in the municipality where the toolbox was introduced. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Arnetz, J and Hasson, Henna}},
  issn         = {{1873-491X}},
  keywords     = {{training; competence development; elderly care; intervention; staff; work satisfaction; nursing}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{723--735}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Nursing Studies}},
  title        = {{Evaluation of an educational "toolbox" for improving nursing staff competence and psychosocial work environment in elderly care: Results of a prospective, non-randomized controlled intervention}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.01.012}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2006.01.012}},
  volume       = {{44}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}