Helping Overcome Pressure and Exhaustion: Empowerment Classes for Southeast Asian Migrant Care Workers (HOPE)

National Taiwan University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Burnout; Heart Rate Variability; Depression

Treatments: Behavioral: HOPE empowerment classes

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06532305

202406135RINE

Details and patient eligibility

About

As Taiwan's population ages, Southeast Asian migrant care workers are widely employed to fill the care labor gap. These workers often face symptoms of burnout and emotional stress due to long working hours and high-pressure environments. This study aims to evaluate the effects of empowerment classes on reducing burnout symptoms and emotional stress among Southeast Asian migrant care workers. The empowerment classes are designed based on expert consensus and cover three core areas: mental health and stress management, dementia care skills, and language and communication skills. The curriculum is tailored to the practical needs and cultural backgrounds of the migrant workers. A total of 120 Indonesian care workers will be randomly assigned to two groups. The first group will undergo a three-month empowerment course, while the second group will initially participate in social gatherings. Afterward, the groups will switch interventions. The study will last for 12 months, and each participant will complete seven assessments, including heart rate variability measurements and online questionnaires. The questionnaires will include the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), the Life and Cultural Adaptation Questionnaire, and the Language Proficiency Questionnaire. The study anticipates that the empowerment classes will reduce burnout symptoms and emotional stress, while enhancing cultural adaptation and language proficiency among migrant care workers.

Full description

Study Design:

The study employs a randomized crossover design involving 120 Indonesian care workers in Taiwan. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups. The first group will undergo a three-month empowerment course initially, while the second group will participate in social gatherings. After three months, the interventions will be switched between the groups. The empowerment classes will cover three core areas: mental health and stress management, dementia care skills, and language and communication skills, tailored to the workers' practical needs and cultural backgrounds.

Duration:

The study will last for 12 months, starting from July 26, 2024, to July 25, 2025.

Data Collection:

Participants will complete seven assessments, including heart rate variability measurements and online questionnaires. The questionnaires will include the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2), the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), the Life and Cultural Adaptation Questionnaire, and the Language Proficiency Questionnaire.

Expected Outcomes:

The study anticipates that the empowerment classes will reduce burnout symptoms and emotional stress, while enhancing cultural adaptation and language proficiency among migrant care workers.

Ethical Considerations:

Participation in this study is voluntary, and participants can withdraw at any time without negative consequences. All personal data will be kept confidential and used solely for research purposes.

Enrollment: 120 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 99 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Indonesian migrant care workers responsible for caring for patients in homes or care institutions.
• Aged 18 years or older.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals unable to read the informed consent form or questionnaires in Indonesian.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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120 participants in 2 patient groups

Empowerment classes

Experimental group

Description:

Content: Mental Health and Stress Management: Techniques and strategies for managing stress, mindfulness practices, and mental health awareness. Dementia Care Skills: Training on dementia care, communication with dementia patients, and specific caregiving techniques. Language and Communication Skills: Improving proficiency in local languages and enhancing communication skills relevant to caregiving. Follow-up: After completing the empowerment classes, participants will switch to the social gatherings intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: HOPE empowerment classes

Social gatherings

Active Comparator group

Description:

Content: Social Interaction: Regular gatherings to promote social bonding and peer support among care workers. Recreational Activities: Group activities designed to foster relaxation and social engagement. Informal Discussions: Opportunities for care workers to share experiences and coping strategies in an informal setting. Follow-up: After completing the social gatherings, participants will switch to the empowerment classes intervention.

Treatment:

Behavioral: HOPE empowerment classes