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Diabetes care in residential homes: staff training makes a difference
1Diabetes Unit, Burnley General Hospital, Casterton Avenue, Burnley BB10 1PQ, Lancashire, UK. trudi@bdeakin.fsnet.co.uk
Aim:
To deliver an educational programme to care home staff in one residential home and assess its impact on staff knowledge and practice.
Methods:
One home within Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, East Lancashire, was randomly selected for education programme delivery and evaluation. An initial assessment questionnaire was used to develop the two, 2-h education sessions. Evaluation involved repeating the knowledge questionnaire 1 week and 12 months after the programme. A semi-structured interview with the officer in charge further investigated staff knowledge and care practice.
Results:
There were 22 staff in the selected home; 12 participated in the programme. Pre- to post-course knowledge gain was significant (P < 0.001) and knowledge retention at 12 months was 92%. The officer in charge also reported at interview that quality of care had improved.
Conclusions:
Staff education increases knowledge and is associated with improved quality of care up to a year after the intervention.