Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
The number of elderly people in the world is increasing rapidly. Sadly, isolation and limited independence can mean that they are at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation by others. This abuse, however, often goes unreported, undetected and the problem underestimated by professionals. Malaysia has a growing aging population and yet awareness of the abuse that can be suffered by this section of the community is woefully inadequate. Due to the nature of their work, health care professionals are seen to be best placed to recognize and diagnose cases of elder abuse. Training programmes to increase awareness, including how to recognize the signs and symptoms and also how to deal with suspected cases effectively are necessary to reduce the mistreatment of the elderly. In order to address this gap, we propose to design an educational programme (the intervention) for nurses that will improve their awareness and practice in detecting the problem. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of the educational intervention, which involves an intense face-toface training programme compared to the conventional training used to increase nurses knowledge, detection and management of elder abuse. We will also explore nurses views and understanding about elder abuse, their barriers on reporting, needs and expectations of the intervention.
Who can participate?
Community nurses and registered nurses working at health clinics in the state of Negeri Sembilan who are aged 18 years and above, have working experience of more than six months and who have not attended any educational programme on management of elder abuse and/or neglect.
What does this study involve?
There are three parts, or phases, to the study. Phase 1 involves an initial focus group discussion (FGD) among nurses to assess their knowledge and awareness of elder abuse and neglect. Findings from Phase 1 then guides the development of a training module in Phase 2. The evidence-based training module is a combination of face-to-face teaching and an educational video on how to identify, assess and stop elder abuse and neglect. The module is designed by the researchers and an expert panel of nurses, primary care physicians, public health specialists and policy makers. Phase 3 evaluates the effectiveness of the education programme in improving the knowledge and management of elder abuse and neglect among the nurses.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There are no potential risks of participation but potential benefits include increased awareness on detection and management of elder abuse and neglect as well as improved quality of care delivery by healthcare providers.
Where is the study run from?
The study will run from health clinics across 3 districts in Negeri Sembilan (Malaysia)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2014 to May 2015
Who is funding the study?
University of Malaya Research Grant (RP001C-13HTM).
Who is the main contact?
Dr Choo Wan Yuen
ccwy@ummc.edu.my
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Dr Wan Yuen Choo
ORCID ID
Contact details
Julius Centre University of Malaya
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur
50603
Malaysia
ccwy@ummc.edu.my
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
N/A
Study information
Scientific title
Improving nurses detection and management of elder abuse and neglect: A cluster randomised trial (I-NEED)
Acronym
I-NEED
Study hypothesis
Hypothesis:
1. Face-to-face intensive training will be more effective than usual care in improving nurses knowledge and detection of suspected elder abuse and neglect.
2. Nurses will score higher on the Elder Abuse Questionnaire (ELSE-Q).
Ethics approval
Medical Ethics Committee University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), 25/10/2013, ref. MEC: 1024.75
Study design
Cluster randomised trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Quality of life
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please contact Associate Professor Dr Choo Wan Yuen at ccwy@ummc.edu.my to request for the patient information sheet.
Condition
Elder Abuse, Neglect, Nurses, Education
Intervention
Participants are randomised to:
1. Control group: Will receive 2 hours face-to face Continuous Nursing Education (CNE) (usual care)
2. Intervention group A: Usual care and 1 day of face-to-face intensive training programme (ITP)
3. Intervention group B: Usual care, 1 day of ITP and educational video
Follow Up Length: 6 months; Study Entry: Single randomisation only
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
Quantitative data:
Knowledge, Detection and Management of Elder Abuse Questionnaire (ELSE-Q) Malay version
Timepoints: Baseline, immediately post-intervention, at 3-months and 6-months follow-up
Qualitative data:
1. Development of training module on identification, assessment and intervention on elder abuse and neglect
2. A process evaluation of the education programmes among nurses will be conducted via FGDs with managerial level nurses, RNs, community nurses and key stakeholders at the end of the intervention
Secondary outcome measures
Number of elder abuse and/or neglect cases identified and managed during follow-up period
Overall trial start date
01/01/2014
Overall trial end date
29/05/2015
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Community nurses and registered nurses (RN) working at health clinics in the state of Negeri Sembilan that:
1. Are female
2. Aged between 18 and 60 years
3. Have working experience of more than six months
4. Have not attended any educational programme on management of elder abuse and/or neglect
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
390 nurses
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Had less than 6 months of working experience
2. Had attended any educational programme related to management of elder abuse and/or neglect
Recruitment start date
01/01/2014
Recruitment end date
29/05/2015
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Malaysia
Trial participating centre
Julius Centre University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur
50603
Malaysia
Sponsor information
Organisation
University of Malaya (Malaysia)
Sponsor details
Julius Centre University of Malaya
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine
Faculty of Medicine
University of Malaya
Kuala Lumpur
50603
Malaysia
pen_ippp@um.edu.my
Sponsor type
University/education
Website
Funders
Funder type
University/education
Funder name
University of Malaya Research Grant (RP001C-13HTM) (Malaysia)
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list