Applying the WANT Model in the Dementia Education and Training Program to Improve the Dementia Care Competence of Institutional Care Workers
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| Title: | Applying the WANT Model in the Dementia Education and Training Program to Improve the Dementia Care Competence of Institutional Care Workers |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Yueh-Ying Yang, Pei-Chi Su (ORCID |
| Source: | Educational Gerontology. 2025 51(6):695-706. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Dementia, Caregiver Training, Residential Care, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Psychological Patterns, Models, Foreign Countries, Nursing Homes, Behavior Problems |
| Geographic Terms: | Taiwan |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03601277.2024.2431952 |
| ISSN: | 0360-1277 1521-0472 |
| Abstract: | Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are widely recognized as the most challenging aspect of dementia care, often leading to the placement of people with dementia in care institutions. The BPSD symptoms include aggression, agitation, wandering, verbal outbursts, delusions, hallucinations, apathy, anxiety etc. At present, institutional care workers face significant gaps in knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to effectively manage BPSD. Hence, a model called WANT was previously developed to assist institutional care workers in managing BPSD; however, empirical testing has not been carried out. 'W-A-N-T' is the abbreviation of Watch-Assess-Need intervention-Think. To examine the effectiveness of WANT education and training program on enhancing the competence of institutional care workers to manage BPSD. The pre-experimental design was adopted for this study with one-group pretest-posttest design. Five long-term care institutions, including care homes and day care centers, were invited to participate, with the participants including institutional care workers and the resident with dementia (RwD) they care for. The evaluation was conducted using the Dementia Care Competence Scale (DCCS) and the Chinese versions of Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CCMAI) for pretest and posttest along with a satisfaction questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using paired t-test. Cohen d was used to test the effect size of the study. A total of 49 care workers and 49 of their RwD (residents with dementia) were involved in this study. After receiving the WANT education and training program, there was significant improvement in the knowledge (p = 0.002), skills (p = 0.000), and attitudes (p = 0.000) among the care workers. Regarding the specific types of agitated behaviors, results showed that only 'persistent, unreasonable demands for attention or help,' 'screaming,' 'constant complaining,' and 'general fidgeting' in RwD were diminished (p < 0.05). The WANT education and training program has the potential to enhance the competence of care workers in managing BPSD and decrease a few agitated behaviors among RwD. It is anticipated that the program will serve as a valuable teaching reference for training care workers in the future, specifically in the management of BPSD. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1496428 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are widely recognized as the most challenging aspect of dementia care, often leading to the placement of people with dementia in care institutions. The BPSD symptoms include aggression, agitation, wandering, verbal outbursts, delusions, hallucinations, apathy, anxiety etc. At present, institutional care workers face significant gaps in knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to effectively manage BPSD. Hence, a model called WANT was previously developed to assist institutional care workers in managing BPSD; however, empirical testing has not been carried out. 'W-A-N-T' is the abbreviation of Watch-Assess-Need intervention-Think. To examine the effectiveness of WANT education and training program on enhancing the competence of institutional care workers to manage BPSD. The pre-experimental design was adopted for this study with one-group pretest-posttest design. Five long-term care institutions, including care homes and day care centers, were invited to participate, with the participants including institutional care workers and the resident with dementia (RwD) they care for. The evaluation was conducted using the Dementia Care Competence Scale (DCCS) and the Chinese versions of Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CCMAI) for pretest and posttest along with a satisfaction questionnaire. The data analysis was performed using paired t-test. Cohen d was used to test the effect size of the study. A total of 49 care workers and 49 of their RwD (residents with dementia) were involved in this study. After receiving the WANT education and training program, there was significant improvement in the knowledge (p = 0.002), skills (p = 0.000), and attitudes (p = 0.000) among the care workers. Regarding the specific types of agitated behaviors, results showed that only 'persistent, unreasonable demands for attention or help,' 'screaming,' 'constant complaining,' and 'general fidgeting' in RwD were diminished (p < 0.05). The WANT education and training program has the potential to enhance the competence of care workers in managing BPSD and decrease a few agitated behaviors among RwD. It is anticipated that the program will serve as a valuable teaching reference for training care workers in the future, specifically in the management of BPSD. |
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| ISSN: | 0360-1277 1521-0472 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03601277.2024.2431952 |
