Evaluating the Appropriateness and Feasibility of the Care Partner Hospital Assessment Tool (CHAT).

Overview

Hospital practitioners rely on care partners of older adults to provide complex care without identifying and addressing their needs. The Care Partner Hospital Assessment Tool (CHAT) was developed to identify the education skill training needs of care partners of hospitalized older adults. This two-phased mixed-method study evaluated the appropriateness and feasibility of the CHAT. The phase 1 quantitative survey with caregiving experts indicated 70-100% agreement for the length and helpfulness of the CHAT (n = 23). These results were supported by phase 2 qualitative interviews with hospital administrators and practitioners, which revealed the following themes: (1) intuitive and clear design worth sustaining and (2) concerns and proposed solutions for implementation. Findings suggest the CHAT is an appropriate and feasible tool for hospital practitioners to tailor their education and skills training to address care partners' needs. Identifying care partners' needs is an important step in ensuring they are prepared to complete their caregiving responsibilities.