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Effects of Emotion-Oriented Care on Work-Related Outcomes of Professional Caregivers in Homes for Elderly Persons

^a Departments of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
^b Departments of Methodology and Statistics, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
^c Departments of General Practice, Maastricht University, The Netherlands
^d Department of General Practice and Social Medicine, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
^e Department of Clinical Psychology, Twenteborg Hospital, Almelo, The Netherlands

Veron J. J. Schrijnemaekers, Department of Epidemiology, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected].

Decision Editor: Fredric D. Wolinsky, PhD

Objectives. A randomized controlled trial was conducted on the effects of emotion-oriented care on professional caregivers in homes for elderly persons. Emotion-oriented care is used in the care for cognitively impaired elderly persons and is mainly based on the validation approach.

Methods. Sixteen homes for the aged were randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. Three hundred professional caregivers were included in the study. The eight intervention homes received a training program in emotion-oriented care. In the eight control homes, usual care was continued. Measurements about job satisfaction, burnout, and sick leave were performed at baseline and after 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up.

Results. Modest positive effects were found in favor of the intervention group. These related to various aspects of job satisfaction and burnout. The effects were not very consistent over time. No differences in sick leave were found.

Discussion. From this study, as well as other studies in this field, no strong effects were found of emotion-oriented care on work-related outcomes in professional caregivers. Additional research is therefore needed. In these new studies, special attention should be given to the optimization of the implementation process of emotion-oriented care programs.