THE IMPACT OF OSTEOPOROSIS TRAINING ON PROFESSIONAL CARE STAFF’S OSTEOPOROSIS KNOWLEDGE AND BELIEFS: A COMPARISON GROUP DESIGN AT A FACILITY FOR ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether the provision of OP related training to employees resulted in increased employee knowledge and accurate beliefs regarding OP. Two different types of employee OP training were provided in a comparison group design to examine if significant differences in OP knowledge and beliefs resulted and whether those results can be attributed to the type of training received. The subjects of this study were 21 adult female staff and 2 adult male staff that provided direct care to individuals with ID who resided in the group homes where the staff worked during the summer of 2012. Subjects participated in the research project in their intact groups based on the group home in which they worked. The convenience sample included staff from Homes 3A, 3C, 3D, and 7C at the Northern Virginia Training Center, in Fairfax, Virginia, who volunteered to participate. Staff members were randomly assigned by intact group to either the Multi-Method Enhanced OP workshop or the DVD/leading question OP workshop. Both types of training incorporated some evidence-based teaching techniques, although the enhanced training featured three speakers who incorporated a variety of evidenced based teaching techniques and information into their sessions. Examples include modeling, creative demonstrations, group participation, etc. In addition, more components of the SCT were incorporated into the strategies of the Multi-Method Enhanced Workshop. Details about the teaching techniques and content of the workshops, is included in chapter 3. Appendix C includes more specific descriptions of both workshops.