Authors: (including presenting author): :
Mak KW 1, Lam KS 2, Lam KF 3, Chan TY 2, Wong YL 3, Tse LC 1, Chan YYR 1, Yeung PY 1
Affiliation: :
Department of Medicine and Rehabilitation 1, Department of Physiotherapy 2, Department of Occupational Therapy 3, Tung Wah Eastern Hospital
Keyword 4: :
activities of daily living
Introduction: :
As the aging population grows, a shift towards care that prioritizes autonomy over mere assistance is critical. This project organized an interdisciplinary seminar for frontline staff to enhance elderly care practices by transforming nursing practices from simply providing assistance to actively promoting patient autonomy and safety.
Objectives: :
The seminar aimed to enhance staff vigilance and skills in promoting safe, autonomous care, enhance the holistic quality of life for older adults, reduce caregiver burden, and provide practical knowledge on ambulation, mobility aids, assistive technologies, and skin integrity management.
Methodology: :
A quasi-experimental pretest-posttest design was used. The seminar content was delivered in three parts: Part 1, led by physiotherapists, covered the prescription and proper use of common walking aids, including specific ambulation skills for patients with Parkinson’s disease and hemiplegia. Part 2, led by occupational therapists, focused on personalizing assistive technologies to enhance activities of daily living, promote independence, and mitigate fall risk. Part 3, jointly led by nurse and occupational therapist, addressed the assessment and prevention of common skin problems such as pressure injuries and incontinence-associated dermatitis, including management strategies.
Result & Outcome: :
Fifty-one participants completed the knowledge assessments. Results showed a dramatic increase in correct-answer rates from 14% pre-seminar to 90% post-seminar. Participant satisfaction, based on returned evaluations, averaged 3.7 out of 4. The interdisciplinary seminar successfully enhanced the capabilities of frontline staff competency in autonomy-focused elderly care, as evidenced by significant knowledge gains and high satisfaction. This supports a care model that emphasizes dignity and independence.
