BACKGROUND

Person-centred communication is important to assure the quality of home care services and to promote older persons´ independence and influence over their lives. Previous research indicates challenges regarding communication between professionals and home care recipients, and how to deliver efficient educational efforts in the home care context.

AIM

The aim was to describe the development and process evaluation of a web-based education intervention in person-centred communication for nurse assistants (NA) in home care.

METHODS

The intervention consisted of a step-wise education, with eight modules that included short video based lectures and movies, one group supervision, and reflective assignments. The content was based on previous research on health care communication and person-centred care. Data were collected from multiple sources before, during and after the implementation, and analysed by a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches.

RESULTS

A complex intervention was conducted to improve the communication competency wanted for person-centred care. The intervention was offered to 23 nurse assistants (NA). Of those, 91% (n=21) participated, in total or in parts, in five or more modules. The findings address participants’ experiences of expectations and worries before the intervention, experiences from the implementation process, and their experiences from taking part of the intervention. During the implementation changes were made according to local circumstances. Overall, the education was experienced as feasible. The web-based design was found to be accessible and the content relevant. 

CONCLUSION

Our findings show that the benefits of the web-based educational intervention included the short and focused lectures as well as its accessibility. Challenges with the implementation process included gaining access to the NAs and motivating and involving the NAs. This study emphasizes the environmental support needed to successfully conduct complex interventions, including physical, organizational and cultural aspects.