Survey on caregiver competency and retraining needs.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Workforce Studies
• Professional Development

Background:

• The aging global population is increasing demand for skilled caregivers.
• Understanding caregiver perceptions of their abilities and educational requirements is crucial for quality elder care.
• Job image and competency assessments inform professional development strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate caregivers' self-perceived job image and abilities.
• To identify caregivers' educational and retraining needs.
• To compare caregiver self-assessments with external observer (nurse) evaluations.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted in 12 Korean general hospitals.
• 451 caregivers and 560 nurses participated between February 2022 and March 2023.
• Caregivers' self-assessments were compared with nurses' external evaluations of job performance and retraining needs.

Main Results:

• Caregivers significantly overestimated their job performance compared to nurses' evaluations.
• Discrepancies were noted in specific skills like "Recording and Reporting" and "Basic Resuscitation."
• Both groups agreed on the need for retraining, favoring 1-2 hours annually.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists between caregiver self-perception and external evaluation of capabilities.
• Systematic professional caregiver retraining is essential to align performance with recognized standards.
• Regular, targeted training can enhance caregiver competency and address evolving healthcare needs.