Older Volunteers' Competence Training

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This project was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the competence training program in improving the knowledge and skills of volunteer work, the motivation for volunteering, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with volunteer work among older volunteers.

Detailed Description
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A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted to test the effects of a 3-month comprehensive competence training program in improving the knowledge and skills of volunteer work, the motivation for volunteering, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with volunteer work among older volunteers. Using convenience sampling, 10 senior activity centers with 162 older volunteers were recruited and cluster-randomized to the intervention group (5 centers) or wait-list comparison group (5 centers). The intervention group received a 3-hour weekly course training session in four consecutive weeks and provided services to community-dwelling older adults for two months; the comparison group provided their routine services at senior activity centers. Data were collected at baseline, one month, and three months into the study.

Official Title
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Older Volunteers' Competence Training for Community-based Long-term Care Services

Conditions
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Volunteers

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Competence training program
* Other: Control


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: older adults age ≥ 65 able to read and write in Chinese being a volunteer at the senior activity center for at least 1 month Exclusion Criteria: illiterate

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 65 Years
Maximum Age: 100 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Competence training program<br>This group received a 3-hour weekly course training session in four consecutive weeks and provided services to community-dwelling older adults for two months. | Other: Competence training program<br>* A 3-hour weekly course training session in four consecutive weeks and provided services to community-dwelling older adults for two months.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Control<br>This group provided their routine services at senior activity centers. | Other: Control<br>* This group provided their routine services at senior activity centers.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| knowledge and skills of volunteer work | measured by the Older Volunteer Competency Scale. It has 30 items with 3 sub-scales. Each item is measured by a 10-point Likert scale. The item scores represent the perceived improvement needed by the respondents with higher scores indicating more needed improvements. | 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| motivation for volunteering | measured by the Volunteer Functions Inventory. It contains 30 items in 6 sub-scales to assess volunteers' motivational functions. Each item is rated on a 7-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates a greater importance of that motive. | 3 months | 
| self-efficacy | measured by the Volunteers' Self-efficacy Questionnaire. It contains 25 items measuring four dimensions. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates better self-efficacy. | 3 months | 
| satisfaction with volunteer work | measured by the Working Satisfaction Scale. It is comprised of 13 items assessing 3 dimensions. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates higher satisfaction with volunteer work. | 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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knowledge and skills, motivation, self-efficacy, satisfaction