THE EFFECTS OF AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM ON ANXIETY, LOCUS-OF-CONTROL, AND KNOWLEDGE IN NURSES' AIDES CARING FOR ALZHEIMER'S PATIENTS IN NURSING HOMES.
Contributors: United States International University.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 131
Subjects: Psychology, Developmental.; Gerontology.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The Problem. The problem addressed was that nurses aides caring for patients with Alzheimer's Disease are working in very stressful jobs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an educational program, in the form of seven structured group meetings, for nurses aides working with Alzheimer's patients.

Method. Sixty four nurses aides from Southern California were randomly assigned to one of two groups (experimental or control) in a pretest, posttest experimental design. The nurses aides in the experimental group were involved in seven, one hour classes, over a seven week period using the theoretical framework of cognitive learning theory. The instruments used were the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control Scale and a knowledge test. These tests were given to determine whether the classes fostered a movement toward more knowledge, less anxiety and a more internally controlled population of nurses aides following the seven classes.

Results. The results of this investigation showed experimental subjects to have a significant decrease in trait anxiety and a close to but not significant decrease in state anxiety. There was also a significant increase in knowledge in the experimental group. The experimental group showed no significant change in locus of control. The control group showed no significant change in anxiety, knowledge or locus of control. The changes that did occur in the experimental group's knowledge and anxiety supported both the hypotheses of the present study and the need for continued research in this area.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-02, Section: B, page: 0581.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY, 1987.

School code: 0239.