Connecting Through Conversation: A Novel Video-Feedback Intervention to Enhance Long-Term Care Aides’ Person-Centred Dementia Communication

OBJECTIVE: To pilot test a novel communication intervention incorporating a video-feedback component on the person-centred dementia communication skills of long-term care aides. METHODS: Effectiveness was assessed using a single group pre-test/post-test design. 11 care aide-resident dyads participated in the study. Objective outcomes included provider statements demonstrating linguistic (i.e., reciprocity, clarity/coherence, and continuity categories) and relational elements of person-centred dementia communication, measured via video-recorded observations of usual care interactions. Subjective outcomes of care aide communication confidence/competence, satisfaction with the resident relationship, relationship closeness, and self-reflection at work were measured using self-report questionnaires. RESULTS: In respect to observed person-centred dementia communication skills, there was an increase in the use of linguistic statements in the reciprocity and continuity categories, as well as total linguistic statements overall. Relational statements and overall person-centred dementia communication (i.e., linguistic plus relational strategies) increased. Care aide-reported communication confidence and competence, relationship closeness with the resident, and self-reflection at work also increased after the communication intervention. DISCUSSION: The communication intervention showed promise as an effective approach to enhance person-centred dementia communication behaviours in care aides. These results support undertaking a larger trial to examine the intervention’s effectiveness more fulsomely.