Date Presented 04/03/2025
An educational program was developed to boost home health clinicians’ confidence in managing mental health conditions. The program, involving diverse learning methods, showed significant improvement in clinician competence and high satisfaction.
Primary Author and Speaker: Sara Kate Frye
Contributing Authors: Pamela Engle, Amanda Watkins
PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to develop and evaluate an educational program aimed at increasing home health clinicians’ confidence in managing patients with mental health conditions. The project addresses the critical issue of health disparities faced by individuals with mental health conditions, who often experience higher rates of chronic illnesses and reduced life expectancy.
DESIGN: This project utilized a quasi-experimental design. Participants included home health clinicians from a large interdisciplinary workforce, comprising nurses, therapists, home health aides, and psychosocial team members. Recruitment was agency-wide, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the clinical staff.
METHOD: The educational program consisted of four synchronous sessions conducted via Microsoft Teams, incorporating auditory lectures, visual aids, videos, case studies, and group discussions. Data collection involved pre- and post-surveys administered to participants before and after the educational sessions.
RESULTS: The program achieved high participation, with 84.5% of agency clinicians attending. Pre- and post-survey results demonstrated a statistically significant increase (P<0.001) in clinician confidence and competence across all content areas. The mean response for the value of the training was 4.5/5, indicating high satisfaction among participants.
CONCLUSION: The educational program successfully enhanced clinician confidence and competence in managing mental health conditions in home health settings. This improvement is likely to contribute to better patient outcomes and reduced health disparities. Future recommendations include conducting follow-up surveys to assess the need for refresher course.
IMPACT STATEMENT: This proposal is crucial for occupational therapy practice as it addresses a gap in clinician education to promote better patient care and reduce health disparities for people with mental health conditions.
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