Effectiveness of a multimethod program to enhance nursing home caregivers’ competence in psychiatric care

• There is an urgent need for research and investment in better psychiatric care in nursing homes. • A tailored program combining expert lectures, contact-based interventions, and reflective sessions can improve caregivers’ sense of competence in psychiatric care. • Diverse alternative learning strategies and Involvement of caregivers in selecting these methods may strengthen caregivers relatedness with the theme of mental health for older adults. To evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored educational program on nursing home caregivers’ sense of competence in psychiatric care. A pre-posttest intervention study was set up in three Belgian nursing homes. A 4-month program including 50 expert-led lectures, contact-based interventions, and reflective sessions was offered. Sixty-five caregivers completed the Sense of Competence in Psychiatric Care Scale (SCIPS) before and after participating in the program. Analysis showed that caregivers’ scores on the Total SCIPS ( p = 0.008) and the subscales Professionalism ( p = 0.024), Care Challenges ( p = 0.014), and Sustaining Personhood ( p = 0.001) increased significantly among those who attended at least one session. No significant difference was found on the subscale Building relationships ( p = 0.205). Building more capacity on motivation, on-site trainings and alternative learning strategies are recommended.