Analysis of Considerations when Developing Online Practical Training Contents for Senior Caregivers: Focus Group Interview -based on Activity Theory

Abstract

Background/Objectives: It is required to nurture senior caregivers with caring competence, and for this purpose, this study analyzes the needs for design of practical contents for senior caregivers, using activity theory.

Methods/Statistical analysis: 25 senior caregivers working 7 centers of the Seoul Social Service Center were interviewed to design the practical training contents. After obtaining IRB, the interview was conducted as a one-on-one telephone interview for 60 minutes. The analysis of needs for the development of practical education contents for senior caregivers was confirmed in the subject-purpose-tool area of the activity theory, and key words appearing here were identified and analyzed.

Findings: The demands derived from activity theory in the subject, goal, and tool area are as follows. First, the effective aspect of practical training contents for senior caregivers is that ‘care’ through ‘education’, ‘service’, and ‘practical education’ are linked to various learning. These demands are in line with previous studies that these demands can be used not only as a measure of work activity, but also as an indicator to check one's own abilities. Second, the part that caregivers expect through learning is 'regular' in various contexts such as 'practice', 'job' and 'service' learning through 'education' and 'crisis', 'site', 'actual', etc. to improve 'adaptability'. It is in line with previous studies that learners want to have the ability to prepare for each situation and have the skills appropriate for their job through periodic and repetitive education. Lastly, in terms of the method of providing learning content and the viewpoint of useful tools, the most dominant demand is 'online education capable of repeated learning in the form of a mixture of on and off learning'.

Improvements/Applications: This study will suggest implications for developing practical content for professional caregivers with online theoretical education and face-to-face practice for physical support activities in the Covid-19 era.