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This study aimed to conceptualise ‘function-focused care efficacy’ for direct care workers in long-term care facilities by identifying the domains and attributes of this concept using a hybrid model.
A hybrid model concept analysis was employed in three stages: theoretical, fieldwork and final analysis.
Data were collected in South Korea from December 9 to December 20, 2024, through literature reviews and interviews with long-term care professionals and gerontological experts. The study comprised in-depth interviews with five participants from long-term care facilities. Data were analysed utilising content analysis.
The final conceptualisation identified six domains and 13 attributes across three dimensions: plan, action and evaluation. The plan dimension encompassed personalised care (identifying residual function and designing tailored care plans) and collaborative care (communication among staff, multi-team approach and cooperation with family). The action dimension covered daily care (supporting daily activities and integrated care), motivational care (encouraging and praising) and ethical care (positive attitude and respect). The evaluation dimension focused on function evaluation (observing and documenting functional changes).
This study conceptualises function-focused care efficacy as the belief that direct care workers can effectively plan personalised and collaborative care, motivate older adults to maintain independence, provide integrated care in daily activities, deliver ethical care with respect and positive attitudes and assess functional changes. These findings can inform a measurement instrument and training programmes to enhance care workers' efficacy in function-focused care.
Enhancing function-focused care efficacy can potentially improve the quality of care provided to older adults, promoting their independence and well-being.
The study aimed to conceptualise function-focused care efficacy among LTCF direct care workers. It identified six domains and 13 attributes across planning, action and evaluation dimensions. This framework can guide the development of efficacy measurement tools.
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No patient or public contribution.
This study aimed to address two objectives: (1) To analyse the meal support behaviours of direct care workers in long-term care facilities in South Korea and (2) to explore associations between mealtime support behaviours and caregiver characteristics.
Secondary analysis of behavioural coding of cross-sectional video recordings.
Positive and negative staff behaviours at mealtimes were coded using the Mealtime Engagement Scale and Cue Utilization and Engagement in Dementia tool, respectively. Statistical analyses, including t-tests and analysis of variance, were used to examine differences in mealtime support behaviours based on caregiver characteristics.
The average mealtime duration of residents was 19.03 ± 5.30 min. Positive meal support behaviours accounted for 91.1% of the observed interactions, whereas negative interactions accounted for 8.9%. The most frequent positive behaviour observed was ‘providing one-on-one assistance’, whereas the most frequent negative behaviour was ‘leaving the resident alone’. Positive meal support behaviours were observed at significant higher frequencies among caregivers working during day shifts than those working during rotating shifts. Additionally, positive behaviours were associated with a higher carer-resident ratio.
Positive mealtime support behaviours were frequently observed but were concentrated in a few specific actions. Negative behaviours, such as leaving the resident alone, were still observed in a considerable portion of mealtime interactions. Training programmes focusing on diverse positive mealtime support behaviours should be developed to improve the quality of dementia care in long-term care facilities.
The findings emphasise the need for targeted training programmes to improve mealtime support and overall care quality in long-term care facilities. This approach signals a transformative shift in caregiver training, fostering more personalised and effective care for older adults with dementia.
This study quantified positive and negative mealtime support behaviours. These findings contribute to understanding caregiver behaviours during mealtimes in dementia care, offering evidence-based insights for developing targeted training programmes and improving quality of care in long-term care facilities.
We adhered to the STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines.
No patient or public contribution.
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