BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression among older people receiving care is high, yet the rate of treatment of this disorder is low. One way to improve the pathway to care is to train care staff to recognize the symptoms of depression and raise their confidence in responding to them. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of the beyondblue Depression Training Program to achieve this aim. METHODS: Staff (N = 148) from low level care facilities and community care facilities in metropolitan Melbourne completed the beyondblue Depression Training Program, while staff in other facilities (N = 96) acted as controls. Pre-program, post-program and follow-up questionnaire data were collected and referrals for depression by staff were recorded. RESULTS: Training improved carers' knowledge about depression, their self-efficacy in responding to signs of depression and their attitudes towards working with depressed aged care recipients. In addition, training increased the number of referrals for depression made by carers. CONCLUSION: Training aged care staff in depression can improve the pathways to care for depressed care recipients, and has the potential to improve the quality of life of older people.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of depression among older people receiving care is high, yet the rate of treatment of this disorder is low. One way to improve the pathway to care is to train care staff to recognize the symptoms of depression and raise their confidence in responding to them. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of the beyondblue Depression Training Program to achieve this aim. METHODS: Staff (N = 148) from low level care facilities and community care facilities in metropolitan Melbourne completed the beyondblue Depression Training Program, while staff in other facilities (N = 96) acted as controls. Pre-program, post-program and follow-up questionnaire data were collected and referrals for depression by staff were recorded. RESULTS: Training improved carers' knowledge about depression, their self-efficacy in responding to signs of depression and their attitudes towards working with depressed aged care recipients. In addition, training increased the number of referrals for depression made by carers. CONCLUSION: Training aged care staff in depression can improve the pathways to care for depressed care recipients, and has the potential to improve the quality of life of older people.
Authors: Marianne Smith; Mary Ellen Stolder; Benjamin Jaggers; Megan Fang Liu; Chris Haedtke Journal: Issues Ment Health Nurs Date: 2013-02 Impact factor: 1.835
Authors: David J Hallford; Marita P McCabe; David Mellor; Tanya E Davison; Denisa L Goldhammer; Kuruvilla George; Shane Storer Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2011-06-13 Impact factor: 3.234
Authors: Diana Velasquez Reyes; Hema Patel; Nicola Lautenschlager; Andrew H Ford; Eleanor Curran; Rachael Kelly; Rhoda Lai; Terence Chong; Leon Flicker; David Ekers; Simon Gilbody; Christopher Etherton-Beer; Dina Lo Giudice; Kathryn A Ellis; Angelita Martini; Osvaldo P Almeida Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2019-10-31 Impact factor: 2.692