Background: Caregivers who do not receive adequate education, training, and support face undue burdens and stress that may interfere with their ability to continue caring for their loved ones at home. Despite literature supporting this claim, there is a lack of training resources available to caregivers.
Purpose/Specific Aims: This project aimed to determine whether hands-on training through a planned educational session increased caregiver confidence in their vital role.
Methods: This project involved a pre- and post-assessment quality improvement design with 13 caregivers attending a 4-hour training session on a community college campus in Rhode Island. Pre- and post-session data was obtained using the eight-item Caregiver Self-Efficacy Scale (CSES-8).
Results: Post-assessment the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test (p value =0.014) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in caregiver confidence level after attending the caregiver training session across all eight items on the scale. Key findings of this project concluded that hands-on training in caregiving duties can positively affect caregiver perceptions of confidence levels and self-efficacy. Providing education regarding available resources and support is linked to better caregiver well-being.
Conclusion: In-person, hands-on training and support should be offered to primary caregivers to assist them in their challenging role. Caregivers too often remain invisible members of the healthcare system. Recognizing them and providing training for the caregiver role offered greater confidence in their skills as they care for their loved ones at home.
