[Measuring end-of-life care efficacy and related factors in the staff members of elderly care facilities].

Abstract

Based on Bandura’s social learning theory, this study conceptualized the end-of-life care efficacy (EoLCE) of elderly care facility staff. In Analysis 1, an EoLCE scale was developed. Factor analysis identified two factors ―instrumental care efficacy and emotional care efficacy— with psychometric adequacy. In Analysis 2, a path analysis was used to examine the relationships between EoLCE and the number of care experiences provided (Care Experiences) as well as the four theory-based sources of self-efficacy: the frequency of feeling a sense of achievement (Achievement), number of opportunities to observe role models, number of opportunities to receive linguistic persuasions (Linguistic Persuasions), and negative emotional responses to end-of-life care. After controlling for these sources, we found that Care Experiences negatively influenced emotional care efficacy. Achievement had the strongest significant relationship with EoLCE. The three other sources showed significant relationships with EoLCE, but there was no relationship between instrumental care efficacy and Linguistic Persuasions. To increase EoLCE, the subjective number of social learning experiences relevant to end-of-life care was important, rather than the number of care experiences provided.