Effects of a practical training programme on burnout among professional caregivers in a care home for older adults with dementia: a pilot study

Aim: As the number of persons with dementia has increased so has the need for both specialized care and long-term care centres. Professional caregivers working in these centres encounter specific problems, including stress, burnout, and feelings of dissatisfaction, each which can affect the quality of care. Due to the nature of their work, they are more likely to experience stress, which may lead to burnout syndrome. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess the results of a practical training programme with regard to burnout among direct care professionals in a nursing home for people with dementia. Methods: A practical training programme was conducted for caregivers at the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Nursing Home in Cuenca, Spain. The programme used a dynamic, interactive methodology to provide training related to concepts and strategies for dementia care. Weekly 2-h sessions were held over 9months, from April 2016 to January 2017, with the post-test administered in February. Pretest and post-test measures were taken for a sample of 36 caregivers. An anova was used to analyze the differences in means before and after training. An ancova was also performed to determine the effects of the intervention. Results: The results revealed a significant difference between pre- and post-intervention emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores. Personal accomplishment scores improved, but the changes were not significant. Conclusion: A practical training programme for direct care professionals working with dementia patients can decrease burnout levels.