A Swedish evaluation of an educational intervention in person-centred communication for nursing assistants in home care for older adults: The ACTION programme

Background Home Care Services for older adults vary widely across countries regarding how they are structured, organised, and funded. The study presents an educational intervention called ACTION (a person-centred CommunicaTION programme for nurse assistants (NAs) in home care for older adults). The aim was to evaluate the impact of the person-centred communication educational intervention for nursing assistants in home care for older adults. Methods Data were collected from both intervention and control groups using pre- and post-intervention surveys assessing person-centred care, empathy, job satisfaction, and communication self-efficacy. The intervention group also completed a programme evaluation with open-ended questions upon completing the educational modules. Results NAs participating in the intervention reported increased awareness of the importance of communication and valued acquiring practical tools to enhance their interactions with older adults. While quantitative measures showed no significant differences between groups, qualitative feedback highlighted improvements in reflective practices and self-confidence in communication skills. The intervention did not yield significant quantitative outcomes, yet it prompted valuable qualitative changes in NAs’ communication awareness and practices. These findings highlight the importance of considering contextual factors and providing ongoing support when implementing person-centred communication interventions in elder care. The evaluation shows both strengths and methodological limitations. While some positive qualitative changes were observed, the findings emphasise the need to include the perspectives of older adults and their relatives in future research. Conclusions In summary, this study demonstrates that while quantitative improvements may be limited, qualitative insights reveal the meaningful impact of educational interventions on person-centred communication for nursing assistants. Continued attention to contextual challenges and ongoing support can further enhance the quality of care for older adults in home settings. Trial registration ISRCTN64890826. Registered 10 January 2022, https:// www. isrctn. com/ ISRCT N6489 0826