Adult protection training for community nurses: evaluating knowledge following delivery using participant-favoured training methods
| Published date | 04 February 2014 |
| Pages | 17-28 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JAP-04-2013-0016 |
| Date | 04 February 2014 |
| Author | Martin Campbell |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Vulnerable groups,Adult protection |
Adult protection training for community
nurses: evaluating knowledge following
delivery using participant-favoured training
methods
Martin Campbell
Martin Campbell is a Senior
Lecturer, based at School of
Psychology & Neuroscience,
University of St Andrews, St
Andrews, Fife, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to measure nurses’ knowledge about Adult Support and Protection
(Scotland) Act 2007 before and after a one-day training course using participants’ favoured methods of
training activities.
Design/methodology/approach – A repeated measures design was used to evaluate the impact of
a one-day Adult Support and Protection training on pre-training knowledge of community nurses across one
NHS area. Participants’ favoured methods of training activities were used in the training. Participants were
community nurses working in learning disability, mental health, older people’s services, acute services,
substance misuse, and accident and emergency. All completed a training needs analysis and training
preferencesstudy. Individualand group scores on an Adult Supportand Protection knowledge questionnaire
were analysed pre- andpost-training.
Findings – There was a statistically significant increase in scores post-training (Wilcoxon’s signed-ranks
test). Individual increases ranged from 2.5 to 27.5 per cent, with a mean score of 15 per cent. Evaluation of
the impact of nationally approved Adult Support and Protection training is needed and training should take
account of participants’ existing knowledge and preferred methods of training delivery to improve the
transfer of learning into practice.
Research limitations/implications – Participants were self-selecting. Existing knowledge was not
controlled for in the sample. No longitudinal follow up to measure retention of any improvements in
knowledge. No control group. Training methods used were based on the expressed preferences of 40
nursing staff, but only 18 of these staff participated in the training day.
Originality/value – There is a dearthof research in evaluatingthe impact of the adult protection training on
staff knowledge and understanding. Designing training activities and content to take account of participant
preferences, and areas where knowledge is weakest may enhance the effectiveness of training in this area. This
research wasfunded as a Queens Nursing Institute CommunityProject. It builds on a pilotproject
Keywords Legal, Safeguarding, Learning/intellectual disabilities
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 is intended to support and protect adults
who may be at risk of harm or neglect. Care providers are obliged to train staff to prevent and
respond to harm or abuse, using the 2007 Act guidance. This training takes a number of forms
and transfer of learning into practice has yet to be fully evaluated. This has been a long standing
issue in relation to adult protection training, e.g.:
The protection of vulnerable adults training programme had been rolled out since August 2005.
We were unclear how the effect of the training would be evaluated (Social Work Inspection
DOI 10.1108/JAP-04-2013-0016 VOL. 16 NO. 1 2014, pp. 17-28, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 1466-8203
j
THE JOURNAL OF ADULT PROTECTION
j
PAGE 17
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