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Evaluating the impact of resource navigators in supporting Long Term Care Home personal support workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

  • Funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)
  • Total publications:0 publications

Grant number: 448828

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Key facts

  • Disease

    COVID-19

  • start year

    2021

  • Known Financial Commitments (USD)

    $312,615.63

  • Funder

    Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  • Principal Investigator

    Fahim Christine, Straus Sharon E

  • Research Location

    Canada

  • Lead Research Institution

    Unity Health Toronto

  • Research Priority Alignment

    N/A

  • Research Category

    Clinical characterisation and management

  • Research Subcategory

    Supportive care, processes of care and management

  • Special Interest Tags

    N/A

  • Study Type

    Clinical

  • Clinical Trial Details

    Randomized Controlled Trial

  • Broad Policy Alignment

    Pending

  • Age Group

    Adults (18 and older)

  • Vulnerable Population

    Unspecified

  • Occupations of Interest

    Other

Abstract

More than 80% of the people who died of COVID-19 in Canada lived or worked in long term care homes (LTCH) and assisted living facilities. Almost 60% of LTCH staff are personal support workers (PSWs) who provide over 90% of direct resident care. PSWs' essential, frontline work puts them at increased risk of COVID-19 infection. Also, PSWs are an unregulated workforce who face many challenges due to systemic inequities and require access to supports and resources during the pandemic. We will use a randomized trial to evaluate the impact of providing PSWs working in LTCH with 1:1 tailored support from a resource navigator + educational resources compared to educational resources only. The primary study outcome is the impact of the intervention on PSW wellness. Secondary outcomes include burnout, knowledge of, access to and use of wellness supports, rates of COVID-19 infection and vaccinations, hospitalizations and deaths. We will also evaluate the quality of implementation of the study intervention.