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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Communication partner training for aged-care workers: A scoping review
International journal of language & communication disorders, Vol.60(2), pp.1-27
20/02/2025
PMID: 39977832
Appears in Recent Faculty of Health Publications
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Abstract
In aged-care settings, direct care staff play a crucial role in supporting older people with communication needs. Many direct care staff, however, have unmet skill needs in interpersonal, intercultural, and intergenerational communication. Communication Partner Training (CPT) provides a potential solution. However, it is not known if existing programs address the diverse communication needs encountered in aged-care settings. We sought to identify the key features of existing CPT programs to determine their suitability for the Australian aged-care context.
Aims: To identify existing CPT programs relevant to aged-care settings and to describe their content and format.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted in alignment with the Joanna Briggs Manual for Evidence Synthesis and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines. Using a systematic search, we identified peer-reviewed articles from five electronic databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane and CINAHL. All retrieved articles were screened by title and abstract; 20% were independently screened by a second reviewer. All full-text articles were independently assessed by two reviewers. Data describing the content and format of identified CPT programs was extracted using the Intervention Taxonomy and an author-developed tool.
Main Contribution: This review highlights critical gaps in existing CPT programs for aged-care settings. Identified programs were predominantly disorder-specific (79%), with the vast majority focusing on conditions like dementia or aphasia and failing to address broader communication needs arising from personal, social and environmental factors. Notably, no programs addressed intercultural communication, despite known cultural and linguistic diversity among aged-care workers and recipients in countries such as Australia. Furthermore, few (9%) included intergenerational communication considerations. Most programs relied on in-person delivery methods (67%), often led by health professionals (71%), which may be impractical for resource-constrained and geographically dispersed aged-care services. Furthermore, reported outcome measures varied (187 across 90 articles), and few evaluated both trainee and client (the 'dyad') outcomes. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, scalable and contextually relevant CPT programs to address the complex communication challenges seen in aged-care settings.
Conclusions: There is a need for a comprehensive CPT program that is fit-for-purpose for direct care staff in aged-care settings. This program should address the multifaceted and intersecting communication support needs of aged-care recipients, including intercultural and intergenerational communication differences. The program should also incorporate resource-feasible delivery methods and evaluate dyadic communication outcomes. Closing these gaps is vital to enhancing quality of care and life for older adults in aged-care settings.
Details
- Title
- Communication partner training for aged-care workers: A scoping review
- Creators
- Bridget Burton - University of QueenslandKirstine Shrubsole - University of QueenslandAsmita Manchha - University of QueenslandMichelle King - University of QueenslandSarah J Wallace - University of Queensland
- Publication Details
- International journal of language & communication disorders, Vol.60(2), pp.1-27
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Grant note
- Medical Research Future, Grant/Award Number: 2015728; National Health and Medical Research Council, Grant/Award Numbers: 1175821, 2026816; Australian Research Training Program (RTP), Grant/Award Number: 2002307740
- Identifiers
- 991013262408602368
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s)
- Academic Unit
- Allied Health and Midwifery; Faculty of Health
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article