Adapting competence development to multicultural healthcare teams: a qualitative study of the International Caregiver Development Programme (ICDP) in nursing homes

BACKGROUND: Enhancing holistic, biopsychosocial and person-centred care for older persons depends on developing competence in psychosocial care. To decrease the theory-practice-gap in person-centred care, there is a need for research to investigate adaptions of competence development within person-centred care that enables knowledge integration and reflexivity to practice. More research is needed on competence development in person-centred care that is tailored to the nursing home context. METHODS: This study aimed to explore how group leaders in International Caregiver Development Programme (ICDP) facilitated competence development within psychosocial care for multicultural healthcare teams in nursing homes. The qualitative design included five participatory observation sessions during the supervision of ICDP group leaders, one focus group interview conducted after the completion of ICDP, and the group leaders’ written logs and reflections from the ICDP group meetings. The data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Three main themes were developed from the analysis:1) Creating the right atmosphere, consisting of (a) creating safety for openness, (b) highlighting mastery in practice and (c) helping ICDP participants to be mentally attuned; 2) Making the ICDP understandable, encompassing (a) transitioning to a reflective mode and (b) adapting the language level; and 3) Creating an inclusive and active learning environment, with (a) facilitating collective participation and (b) supporting the groups’ engagement as subthemes. CONCLUSIONS: Study findings suggest that interventions for psychosocial competence development require adjustments based on healthcare workers’ need for security, a sense of mastery, present-moment awareness, reflection on practice, appropriate language level, commitment and motivation. Such adaptations may be crucial for healthcare workers’ ability to integrate knowledge, reflexivity and sensitivity into person-centred practice. ICDP appears to be flexible and adaptable to a nursing context. Further research is needed on the ICDP in relation to professional confidence, sick leave and sustainability. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.