Aging simulation course to improve skills of long-term care workers
The Impact of Elderly Simulation Experience on Aging Knowledge, Attitudes, Empathy, Communication Skills and Learning Satisfaction for Facility Care- Workers in Long-term Care Institutions : An Action Research and Effectiveness Evaluation
This program will see if an aging simulation course helps care workers in long-term residential facilities improve their knowledge, attitudes, empathy, communication skills, and learning satisfaction.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 162 (estimated) |
| Ages | 20 Years to 70 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Tzu Chi University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Hualien City) |
| Trial ID | NCT07160907 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized controlled trial will enroll 162 care workers from long-term residential care institutions and randomly assign them to an experimental group or a control group. The experimental group will receive an aging-knowledge lecture plus a hands-on aging simulation using aging suits and a peer discussion session, while the control group will receive the lecture only. Outcomes on aging knowledge, care attitudes, empathy, communication skills, and learning satisfaction will be measured before the intervention and at one and two months after. Both quantitative measures and qualitative feedback will be used to determine training effects and guide future caregiver education programs.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Care workers employed at residential long-term care institutions in Eastern Taiwan, aged 20–70, with at least one month of work in their current role, literate, able to complete questionnaires, and able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Care workers who cannot safely participate in the physical aging-suit simulation due to health or mobility limitations, those who decline or withdraw consent, or staff outside the study region may not receive benefit from the hands-on component.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, residents in long-term care could receive more empathetic, clearer, and safer care from better-prepared staff.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small studies using aging-simulation suits and experiential training have often shown short-term improvements in caregiver empathy and attitudes, though long-term effects remain limited and variable.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must be care workers currently employed at residential long-term care institutions in Eastern Taiwan, aged between 20 and 70 years. They must have at least one month of work experience in their current role, be literate, capable of completing written questionnaires, able to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese, and willing to provide informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals will be excluded if they do not meet the above inclusion criteria, decline to participate or withdraw consent during the study, or are physically unable to safely engage in the aging simulation activity due to health or mobility limitations.
Where this trial is running
Hualien City
- Tzu Chi University — Hualien City, Taiwan (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Hsin Feng Su
- Email: ss205@gms.tcu.edu.tw
- Phone: 886-0980313695
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.