Effectiveness of a Competency Development Program for Caregivers of the Elderly and Dependent in Mueang Chaiyaphum District, Chaiyaphum Province

Abstract

This quasi-experimental research aimed to compare caregivers’ knowledge, performance competency, and self-efficacy regarding elderly care before and after participating in the competency development program for caregivers of the dependent elderly in Mueang Chaiyaphum District, Chaiyaphum Province. The target population consisted of active caregivers in Mueang Chaiyaphum District who had completed their initial training more than 3 years prior. The minimum sample size was calculated using power analysis with a 20 percent drop-out compensation, yielding 235 participants, with a total of 309 caregivers successfully completing the study and providing complete data.

Research instruments included a 5-dimension competency development program (physical therapy, crisis management, environmental modification, dementia care, and Thai traditional medicine), a 20-item knowledge assessment, a 5-level rubric performance competency scale, and a self-efficacy scale. Content validity was evaluated by 3 experts, yielding an index ranging from 0.92 to 0.96 across instruments. Reliability was confirmed with KR-20=0.84 for knowledge assessment and Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.88 to 0.91 for competency and self-efficacy scales. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired t-tests, with statistical significance set at 0.05.

The results revealed that among the 309 caregivers, the mean knowledge score significantly increased post-intervention (±SD=12.45±2.18 to 17.82±1.64, t=-32.64, p<0.001). Performance competency significantly improved from a moderate level to an excellent level (±SD=2.85±0.54 to 4.45±0.38, t=-42.15, p<0.001). Furthermore, self-efficacy scores significantly increased from a moderate level to the highest level (±SD=2.92±0.58 to 4.52±0.41, t=-38.74, p<0.001). These findings demonstrate that the 5-dimension competency development program effectively enhances caregivers' skills and self-efficacy, serving as a sustainable prototype model for primary long-term care systems.