本橫斷式研究旨在探討居家照顧服務員(簡稱居服員)之失智症照顧知識、態度及自覺照顧能力。臺灣東部212位居服員完成問卷調查,多數居服員為中年婦女且國高中職教育程度。研究結果顯示居服員有中等程度的失智症照顧知識、中等程度正向態度及中等以上的照顧自覺能力;其失智症照顧態度愈正向,自覺照顧能力愈好。有六成多居服員曾接受失智症課程,但課程時數不足,且較欠缺失智症患者精神行為症狀處理方式、溝通能力與活動設計安排等知識及技能。建議未來在居服員訓練課程增加失智症照顧課程時數,且課程內容應要符合居服員的教育程度及工作需求,並設計線上或行動學習課程以方便居服員學習。居服員照顧失智患者的照顧知能增加,有助促進其職場能力,進而提升社區失智症患者的照顧品質。
This cross-sectional study explored the knowledge, attitude, and perceived competence among home care providers in providing dementia care. A total of 212 home care providers in eastern Taiwan completed questionnaires. The majority were middle-aged women with a junior-high or high-school education. They had average knowledge and normal attitudes regarding dementia care with slightly above average levels of self-assessed perceived competence. Those who had more positive attitudes toward caring for patients with dementia also had higher perceived competence. The training the home care providers had received on dementia care was insufficient. Their knowledge and skills regarding management of behavioral and psychological symptoms, communication skills, and activity arrangement were lacking. Therefore, training courses must be designed according to the education levels and work requirements of home care providers. Internet-based or mobile learning strategies could be adopted as convenient and accessible strategies for enhancing the knowledge of home care providers. Increasing home care providers' knowledge and competence in dementia care would not only enhance providers' skills but also improve the quality of care for community-dwelling patients with dementia.