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An evaluation of the beyondblue Depression Training Program for aged care workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2010

David Mellor ,
Melanie Kiehne ,
Marita P. McCabe ,
Tanya E. Davison ,
Gery Karantzas  and
Kuruvilla George
David Mellor*
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
Melanie Kiehne
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
Marita P. McCabe
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
Tanya E. Davison
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
Gery Karantzas
Affiliation:
Deakin University, Victoria, Australia
Kuruvilla George
Affiliation:
Eastern Health Aged Persons’ Mental Health, Victoria, Australia
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: David Mellor, School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125Australia. Phone: +61 3 9244 3742; Fax: +61 3 9244 6858. Email: david.mellor@deakin.edu.au.
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Abstract

Background: The prevalence of depression among older people receiving care is high, yet the rate of treatment of this disorder is low. One way to improve the pathway to care is to train care staff to recognize the symptoms of depression and raise their confidence in responding to them. In this study we evaluated the efficacy of the beyondblue Depression Training Program to achieve this aim.

Methods: Staff (N = 148) from low level care facilities and community care facilities in metropolitan Melbourne completed the beyondblue Depression Training Program, while staff in other facilities (N = 96) acted as controls. Pre-program, post-program and follow-up questionnaire data were collected and referrals for depression by staff were recorded.

Results: Training improved carers’ knowledge about depression, their self-efficacy in responding to signs of depression and their attitudes towards working with depressed aged care recipients. In addition, training increased the number of referrals for depression made by carers.

Conclusion: Training aged care staff in depression can improve the pathways to care for depressed care recipients, and has the potential to improve the quality of life of older people.

Keywords

recognitiontreatmentdepressionolder adultsresidential care
Type
Special Issue Articles
Information
International Psychogeriatrics , Volume 22 , Special Issue 6: Focus on training in psychogeriatrics , September 2010 , pp. 927 - 937
Copyright
Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2010

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