A teamwork training programme to improve collaboration between nurses and care assistants in the care of older patients in a Chinese hospital
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN13105613 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13105613 |
| Institutional study reference number assigned by Hanyang University, Republic of Korea | HYU-2026-263 |
| Sponsor | Hanyang University |
| Funder | Investigator initiated and funded |
- Submission date
- 28/07/2026
- Registration date
- 29/07/2026
- Last edited
- 28/07/2026
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Other
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
In Chinese hospitals, registered nurses often work with unlicensed assistive personnel, also referred to as care assistants, when providing daily care for older patients. Unclear role boundaries, incomplete communication, and difficulties with task coordination may affect teamwork and the quality of care. This study will evaluate a teamwork training programme designed for registered nurses who work with care assistants in the care of older hospitalised patients.
Who can participate?
Registered nurses from Qionghai People’s Hospital in Hainan Province, China, who provide care for older patients, have worked continuously in their current position for at least 6 months, have experience of working with care assistants, are able to complete the training and assessments, and provide written informed consent.
What does the study involve?
After completing a baseline questionnaire, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups in a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group will continue to receive routine hospital training and management and will also take part in a four-week teamwork programme. The programme will include one 60 to 90 minute session per week and will cover team structure, role boundaries, task handover and delegation, communication and feedback, situation monitoring, and mutual support. Sessions will include short lectures, case discussions, simulation-based activities, reflection, and feedback.
The control group will continue to receive routine hospital training and management during the study period. Participants in the control group will be offered access to the teamwork training after the follow-up assessment.
Both groups will complete questionnaires before randomisation, immediately after the 4-week programme, and 4 weeks after the programme ends. The main outcome is nurses’ teamwork. Other outcomes include role ambiguity and delegation readiness. Nurses in the intervention group will also report how acceptable, appropriate, and feasible they consider the programme.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no guaranteed direct benefit from taking part. Nurses in the intervention group may gain knowledge and skills related to teamwork, communication, role clarification, and delegation. The study involves a low-risk educational programme and questionnaires. Possible inconveniences include the time required, mild fatigue, or minor psychological discomfort. Participants may stop at any time without any effect on their employment, training opportunities, or workplace relationships.
Where is the study run from?
Qionghai People’s Hospital (China)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2027 to May 2027
Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded
Who is the main contact?
Yaling Wang, wangyaling1003@gmail.com
Contact information
Public, Principal investigator
222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu
Seoul
04763
Korea, South
| Phone | +86 (0)180 8316 2666 |
|---|---|
| wangyaling1003@gmail.com |
Scientific
College of Nursing, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu
Seoul
04763
Korea, South
| Phone | +82 (0)2 2220 3160 |
|---|---|
| ysshin2k@hanyang.ac.kr |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Allocation | Randomized controlled trial |
| Masking | Blinded (masking used) |
| Control | Active |
| Assignment | Parallel |
| Purpose | Health services research |
| Scientific title | Effectiveness and implementation of an EPIS-informed teamwork intervention versus routine hospital training and management for improving teamwork, reducing role ambiguity, and enhancing delegation readiness among registered nurses collaborating with unlicensed assistive personnel in the care of older adults in China: a single-centre, two-arm, parallel-group randomised controlled trial |
| Study objectives | The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether an EPIS-informed, nurse-targeted teamwork intervention improves nurses’ teamwork compared with routine hospital training and management among registered nurses providing care for older patients in a Chinese public tertiary hospital. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the effects of the intervention on nurses’ role ambiguity and delegation readiness. The study will also assess the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of the intervention among participants in the intervention group. Process evaluation will examine attendance, intervention completion, intervention delivery, protocol deviations, session feedback, open-ended comments, and possible contamination between the intervention and control groups. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 22/07/2026, Hanyang University Institutional Review Board (Research Ethics and Security Center, Room 418, Hanyang Institute of Technology, Hanyang University, 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, Korea, South; +82 (0)2 2220 0673; irb@hanyang.ac.kr), ref: HYUIRB-202607-027 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Nursing teamwork and healthcare service delivery in the care of older hospitalised patients, focusing on teamwork between registered nurses and unlicensed assistive personnel, role ambiguity, and delegation readiness |
| Intervention | After providing written informed consent and completing the baseline assessment, 104 eligible registered nurses will be randomly allocated to the intervention group or control group in a 1:1 ratio. Block randomisation will be used. An independent researcher who is not involved in participant recruitment, baseline assessment, data collection, or intervention delivery will generate the allocation sequence using a computer-generated randomisation procedure. Allocation will be concealed using sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes, which will be opened only after completion of the baseline assessment. Participants allocated to the intervention group will receive the hospital’s routine training and management together with a 4-week nurse-targeted teamwork intervention. The intervention will consist of one session per week for four consecutive weeks, with each session lasting approximately 60 to 90 minutes. The core components will include team structure, role boundaries, task handover and delegation, communication and feedback, situation monitoring, and mutual support. The sessions will combine brief lectures, case discussions, simulation-based activities, situational reflection, and feedback. The intervention will be delivered by researchers or research team members who have received standardised training and will follow a standardised intervention manual and session flow sheet. Participants allocated to the control group will continue to receive routine hospital training and management and will not receive the study-specific teamwork intervention during the study period. Routine training and management may include induction training, continuing education, patient safety and basic nursing education, older patient care education, routine workflow guidance, clinical teaching, and nursing management support. Participants in the control group will be offered delayed access to the teamwork training after completion of the follow-up assessment. Both groups will complete assessments at baseline before randomisation, immediately after completion of the 4-week intervention, and 4 weeks after completion of the intervention. The total participation period for each participant will be approximately 8 weeks. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
|
| Completion date | 31/05/2027 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | |
|---|---|
| Age group | Mixed |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Upper age limit | 120 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 104 |
| Key inclusion criteria | Participants will be eligible if they: 1. Are registered nurses aged 18 years or older, of any sex 2. Provide care primarily to older patients, or work in wards responsible for older patient care, at Qionghai People’s Hospital, Hainan Province, China 3. Have worked continuously in their current position for at least 6 months 4. Have practical experience in patient care or routine collaboration with unlicensed assistive personnel 5. Are able to understand the intervention content and complete the training, questionnaire assessments, and follow-up evaluations 6. Understand the purpose of the study, voluntarily agree to participate, and provide written informed consent |
| Key exclusion criteria | Participants will be excluded if they: 1. Are currently not on duty, or are expected to be unable to complete the full intervention process because of leave, ward rotation, external training, temporary reassignment, resignation, or extended absence 2. Are unable to participate in the intervention, questionnaire assessments, or follow-up evaluations because of physical or psychological reasons 3. Are currently participating in training programmes or related studies involving teamwork, communication, delegation, or collaboration with unlicensed assistive personnel that may affect the outcomes of this study |
| Date of first enrolment | 04/01/2027 |
| Date of final enrolment | 28/02/2027 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- China
Study participating centre
China
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|
Editorial Notes
28/07/2026: Study's existence confirmed by the Hanyang University Institutional Review Board.
