Communication skills training in a nursing home: effects of a brief intervention on residents and nursing aides

Figures & data

Table 1 Mean number of effective and ineffective communication skills and percentage of effective interactions (Observation Form of General Communication and Communication Skills Checklist) for both groups during both observation phases

	Group	Baseline		Postintervention
		M	SE	M	SE
Total speech	Training	32.32	1.94	35.05	2.92
	Control	33.98	1.78	36.73	2.68
Neutral speech	Training	28.68	1.82	29.25	2.80
	Control	30.41	1.68	31.67	2.58
Positive speech	Training	3.11	0.55	5.09	0.90
	Control	3.30	0.51	4.35	0.83
Negative speech	Training	0.52	0.18	0.70	0.29
	Control	0.27	0.16	0.69	0.26
Biographical statements	Training	1.59	0.51	1.64	0.77
	Control	1.19	0.47	2.27	0.71
Call by name (%)	Training	90.91	9.32	95.45	5.18
	Control	84.62	8.57	92.31	4.77
Announce activity (%)	Training	83.33	7.45	100.00	3.58
	Control	100.00	6.20	96.15	2.98

Abbreviations: M, mean; SE, standard error.

Table 2 Mean number of effective and ineffective instructions (Communication Skills Checklist) for both groups during both observation phases

	Group	Baseline		Postintervention
		M	SE	M	SE
Short instructions	Training	6.73	1.15	9.07	1.14
	Control	6.92	1.06	8.62	1.05
General instructions	Training	2.23	0.34	2.23	0.39
	Control	2.65	0.31	2.08	0.36
Multiple instructions	Training	0.59	0.18	0.11	0.15
	Control	0.81	0.16	0.81	0.13

Abbreviations: M, mean; SE, standard error.

Figure 1 Mean caregiver distress scores for both groups during both observation phases.

Table 3 Mean severity of residents’ psychopathology (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire) for both groups during both observation phases

	Group	Baseline		Postintervention
		M	SE	M	SE
Total	Training	7.56	1.59	5.44	1.44
	Control	5.70	2.01	8.10	1.82
Depression	Training	0.50	0.21	0.50	0.23
	Control	0.60	0.26	0.60	0.29
Anxiety	Training	0.56	0.19	0.63	0.23
	Control	0.40	0.24	0.70	0.29
Apathy	Training	0.81	0.25	0.50	0.23
	Control	0.20	0.32	0.70	0.29
Disinhibition	Training	0.63	0.26	0.81	0.24
	Control	1.00	0.33	0.60	0.31
Irritability	Training	0.75	0.28	0.56	0.28
	Control	1.30	0.35	1.70	0.35

Abbreviations: M, mean; SE, standard error.