As populations rapidly age and reliance on home-based care increases, strengthening the competency of community caregivers has become a critical global priority. This study reports the development and preliminary evaluation of an innovative participatory training model designed to enhance caregiver competency within a national community-based long-term care (LTC) system in Thailand. Using a participatory action research design, the model was co-created with care managers, local administrators, and caregivers to ensure contextual relevance, feasibility, and sustainability. The model is distinguished by three unique characteristics: (1) a rotational, real-case–based training structure organized around actual patient care conditions; (2) the use of experienced caregivers and care managers as co-trainers to promote peer learning and tacit knowledge transfer; and (3) the integration of digital documentation and communication via a caregiver application, alongside occupational ergonomic safety, basic life support, and end-of-life care as core competency domains. Core clinical content included feeding tube care, urinary catheter care, oxygen therapy with suction, pressure sore care and prevention, and medication and safety use of herbal medicine. Fifty community caregivers completed pre- and post-training knowledge assessments. Substantial improvements in knowledge were observed across all training sessions, with post-training scores approaching maximum possible levels. Caregivers reported high satisfaction and increased confidence in managing complex home-care tasks. Stakeholders expressed strong readiness to institutionalize and scale up the model using existing LTC funding mechanisms.

Authors:
Weeraporn Suthakorn, Chiangmai University, Thailand
Rungsiya Narin, Chiangmai university, Thailand

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Weeraporn Suthakorn is currently an associate professor of nursing at a faculty of nursing, Chiangmai university, Thailand.

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https://www.linkedin.com/in/weeraporn-suthakorn-b22552399

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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