BMC Medical Ethics (Oct 2024)

Ethical self-efficacy among healthcare professionals caring for people with dementia: a brief pre- and post-report on the CARE intervention

  • Frederik Schou-Juul,
  • Lucca-Mathilde Thorup Ferm,
  • Simon Kinch,
  • Sofie Smedegaard Skov,
  • Christian Ritz,
  • Sigurd Lauridsen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-024-01106-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 25, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background Interventions targeting healthcare professionals’ confidence in managing ethical issues in dementia care are limited despite documented positive effects of educational programs on staff knowledge and self-efficacy. However, inconsistencies in the literature regarding the impact of educational programs underscore the need for targeted interventions. The CARE intervention, specifically designed to enhance confidence in ethical decision-making, aims to address this gap. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the CARE intervention in enhancing the ethical self-efficacy of healthcare professionals caring for people with dementia, particularly those with initially low levels of self-efficacy. Methods Using a non-experimental pre-post evaluation design, the CARE intervention was administered to healthcare professionals (n = 86), measuring ethical self-efficacy pre-and post-intervention. We hypothesized significant differences in ethical self-efficacy mean scores pre- and post-intervention for all participants, particularly those with low pre-measurement scores, whom we expected to benefit most from the intervention. Statistical analysis included paired t-tests and Wilcoxon tests for the low pre-measurement subgroup analysis. Results While no significant change was observed in the entire sample, participants with low initial self-efficacy showed a statistically significant improvement post-intervention. Conclusions The CARE intervention holds promise in improving ethical self-efficacy among healthcare professionals with initial low confidence levels. Targeted interventions are essential in addressing confidence gaps in managing ethical challenges in dementia care, with implications for professional well-being and quality of care. Further research should explore long-term effects and expand sample size to enhance generalizability and sustainability of findings.

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