Effects of a Web-based Training Programme Focusing on Challenging Behaviour

Summary

The interaction between people with intellectual disabilities and professional carers is often influenced by communicative difficulties contributing challenging behaviours.

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate a web-based training program aimed at improving carers' abilities to interact with people with learning disabilities who exhibit challenging behaviours and to explore carers' experiences of participating in such a program.

Method: This study has a cross-sectional design. Sample: The study will be conducted in twenty special community-based accommodations, group-homes, in Sweden that each houses 4-8 residents. The staff in the group-homes is working independently with the manager located at distance.The staff (N=221) in this study works with people with intellectual disabilities who has different functional levels, from moderate to profound intellectual disabilities. They have different educational backgrounds: from basic nursing education at the college level to university degree.

Intervention: The intervention consists of a web-based training program, available for all staff working in special accommodations for people with intellectual disabilities. The web-based training program focuses on strengthening the carers' communication skills.

Procedure: The social Services authorities and the managers from each home agreed to the project. The carers have given their informed consent to attend the study. The participants will by their own during working hour go through the web-based program. The time to complete the web-based training program is estimated at approximately ten hours.

Data-analysis: Descriptive statistics will be used for demographic data. Proportions will be compared to the chi-square test. The mean values between the groups will be compared by t-test or Mann-Whitney's U-test, as appropriate. Changes in the mean between and in the groups will be compared with paired t-test. Double-sided significance test will be used throughout. Data will be presented at a group level.

Conditions

• Challenging Behaviour

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Web-based training for staff

This web-based training program is focusing on strengthening the carers' communication skills. Video lectures on the definitions, characteristics and causes of challenging behavior will be given. Video lectures will also be given on the importance of the carers' views on their values, emotions, abilities and attitude towards people with intellectual disabilities and on the impact that workplace culture and environmental factors have on the quality of interactions. The program also includes written cases that gives the participants opportunities to reflect upon approaches supporting a successful interaction. It also covers factors to consider when mental illness and challenging behavior occur. The time to complete the web-based training program is estimated at approximately ten hours.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University West, Sweden

  collaborator OTHER

• Umeå University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Helena Antonsson, Phd · Umea University

• Catrin Alverbratt, Phd · University West

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

67 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-01-10

Primary Completion

2018-10-15

Completion

2018-11-15

Countries

• Sweden

Study Locations