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Communication Partner Training for Aged-Care Workers: A Scoping Review

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Title: Communication Partner Training for Aged-Care Workers: A Scoping Review
Language: English
Authors: Bridget Burton (ORCID 0000-0003-0311-5113), Kirstine Shrubsole (ORCID 0000-0002-7805-2447), Asmita Manchha (ORCID 0000-0002-4728-0244), Michelle King (ORCID 0000-0001-8131-4965), Sarah J. Wallace (ORCID 0000-0002-0600-9343)
Source: International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2025 60(2).
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 27
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Older Adults, Literature Reviews, Interpersonal Relationship, Communication Research, Interpersonal Communication, Dialogs (Language), Caregivers, Intercultural Communication, Intergenerational Programs
Geographic Terms: Australia
DOI: 10.1111/1460-6984.70016
ISSN: 1368-2822
1460-6984
Abstract: Background: In aged-care settings, direct care staff play a crucial role in supporting older people with communication needs. Many direct care staff, however, have unmet skill needs in interpersonal, intercultural, and intergenerational communication. Communication Partner Training (CPT) provides a potential solution. However, it is not known if existing programs address the diverse communication needs encountered in aged-care settings. We sought to identify the key features of existing CPT programs to determine their suitability for the Australian aged-care context. Aims: To identify existing CPT programs relevant to aged-care settings and to describe their content and format. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in alignment with the Joanna Briggs Manual for Evidence Synthesis and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines. Using a systematic search, we identified peer-reviewed articles from five electronic databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane and CINAHL. All retrieved articles were screened by title and abstract; 20% were independently screened by a second reviewer. All full-text articles were independently assessed by two reviewers. Data describing the content and format of identified CPT programs was extracted using the Intervention Taxonomy and an author-developed tool. Main Contribution: This review highlights critical gaps in existing CPT programs for aged-care settings. Identified programs were predominantly disorder-specific (79%), with the vast majority focusing on conditions like dementia or aphasia and failing to address broader communication needs arising from personal, social and environmental factors. Notably, no programs addressed intercultural communication, despite known cultural and linguistic diversity among aged-care workers and recipients in countries such as Australia. Furthermore, few (9%) included intergenerational communication considerations. Most programs relied on in-person delivery methods (67%), often led by health professionals (71%), which may be impractical for resource-constrained and geographically dispersed aged-care services. Furthermore, reported outcome measures varied (187 across 90 articles), and few evaluated both trainee and client (the 'dyad') outcomes. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, scalable and contextually relevant CPT programs to address the complex communication challenges seen in aged-care settings. Conclusions: There is a need for a comprehensive CPT program that is fit-for-purpose for direct care staff in aged-care settings. This program should address the multifaceted and intersecting communication support needs of aged-care recipients, including intercultural and intergenerational communication differences. The program should also incorporate resource-feasible delivery methods and evaluate dyadic communication outcomes. Closing these gaps is vital to enhancing quality of care and life for older adults in aged-care settings.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1463880
Database: ERIC
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bridget+Burton%22">Bridget Burton</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0311-5113">0000-0003-0311-5113</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kirstine+Shrubsole%22">Kirstine Shrubsole</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7805-2447">0000-0002-7805-2447</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Asmita+Manchha%22">Asmita Manchha</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4728-0244">0000-0002-4728-0244</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Michelle+King%22">Michelle King</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8131-4965">0000-0001-8131-4965</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sarah+J%2E+Wallace%22">Sarah J. Wallace</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0600-9343">0000-0002-0600-9343</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Language+%26+Communication+Disorders%22"><i>International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders</i></searchLink>. 2025 60(2).
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: 27
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Older+Adults%22">Older Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Literature+Reviews%22">Literature Reviews</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Relationship%22">Interpersonal Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication+Research%22">Communication Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Communication%22">Interpersonal Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dialogs+%28Language%29%22">Dialogs (Language)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Caregivers%22">Caregivers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intercultural+Communication%22">Intercultural Communication</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intergenerational+Programs%22">Intergenerational Programs</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1111/1460-6984.70016
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  Data: 1368-2822<br />1460-6984
– Name: Abstract
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  Data: Background: In aged-care settings, direct care staff play a crucial role in supporting older people with communication needs. Many direct care staff, however, have unmet skill needs in interpersonal, intercultural, and intergenerational communication. Communication Partner Training (CPT) provides a potential solution. However, it is not known if existing programs address the diverse communication needs encountered in aged-care settings. We sought to identify the key features of existing CPT programs to determine their suitability for the Australian aged-care context. Aims: To identify existing CPT programs relevant to aged-care settings and to describe their content and format. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in alignment with the Joanna Briggs Manual for Evidence Synthesis and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews reporting guidelines. Using a systematic search, we identified peer-reviewed articles from five electronic databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane and CINAHL. All retrieved articles were screened by title and abstract; 20% were independently screened by a second reviewer. All full-text articles were independently assessed by two reviewers. Data describing the content and format of identified CPT programs was extracted using the Intervention Taxonomy and an author-developed tool. Main Contribution: This review highlights critical gaps in existing CPT programs for aged-care settings. Identified programs were predominantly disorder-specific (79%), with the vast majority focusing on conditions like dementia or aphasia and failing to address broader communication needs arising from personal, social and environmental factors. Notably, no programs addressed intercultural communication, despite known cultural and linguistic diversity among aged-care workers and recipients in countries such as Australia. Furthermore, few (9%) included intergenerational communication considerations. Most programs relied on in-person delivery methods (67%), often led by health professionals (71%), which may be impractical for resource-constrained and geographically dispersed aged-care services. Furthermore, reported outcome measures varied (187 across 90 articles), and few evaluated both trainee and client (the 'dyad') outcomes. These findings underscore the need for comprehensive, scalable and contextually relevant CPT programs to address the complex communication challenges seen in aged-care settings. Conclusions: There is a need for a comprehensive CPT program that is fit-for-purpose for direct care staff in aged-care settings. This program should address the multifaceted and intersecting communication support needs of aged-care recipients, including intercultural and intergenerational communication differences. The program should also incorporate resource-feasible delivery methods and evaluate dyadic communication outcomes. Closing these gaps is vital to enhancing quality of care and life for older adults in aged-care settings.
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