An analysis of the competencies required for selected home-based care occupations

• Main Author: Gehler, Jan Lamp
• Other Authors: Courtney, E. Wayne
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Home care services > Alaska; Caregivers > Training of > Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1957/36491

This research evaluated the importance of select competencies in the area of human behavior, important to home-based caregivers employed independently and/or within a service agency in the State of Alaska. Data were gathered from respondents working in home-based care (N=76), and from those working in a related field (N=38). Data were collected on a forty-three (43) item instrument, using a five-point Likert type scale. The instrument was validated by a consensus of panelists using the Delphi technique. The reliability of the instrument was determined to be +0.893, using the Hoyt-Stunkard method. Analysis of variance tests were completed for each of the forty-three (43) competencies and for two work status characteristics to determine differences between responses of those working in home-based care and those working in a related field. Factor analysis, using the R-mode, provided for clustering of competencies and constituted the major analysis procedure for the study. The purpose of the study was to provide curriculum planning direction for postsecondary training in human behavior-related competencies for home-based caregivers. The results of the study indicated the presence of five (5) clusters of content considered basic to training curriculum for all home-based caregivers. The clusters included: One Family systems (8 competencies); Two - Nutrition and food management (6 competencies); Three - Human development (13 competencies); Four Home safety and accessibility (9 competencies); and Five Organization and interpersonal skills (8 competencies). Overall competency means ranged from 2.986 to 4.522. Significance tests showed thirteen (13) rejected hypotheses for the forty-three (43) competencies. The mean scores for twelve (12) of those rejected were slightly higher for those working in home-based care than for those working in a related field. The results of the study present direction for postsecondary vocational curriculum development in human behavior-related competencies important to home-based caregivers. === Graduation date: 1993