Effects of training on controllability attributions of behavioural excesses and deficits shown by adults with Down syndrome and dementia

Background Whereas there is a knowledge base on staff attributions of challenging behaviour, there has been little research on the effects of training, type of behaviour and biological context on staff attributions of controllability in the context of people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. Methods A mixed design was used to investigate the effects of three factors on care staff attributions of the controllability of challenging behaviour. Pre- and post-training measures were administered to participants (n = 97) attending training on ageing, dementia and people with intellectual disabilities. Results No significant effects of diagnosis or type of behaviour on attributions were found. There was a significant increase in knowledge after training (P <0.001) and training was found to significantly decrease the attribution of controllability (P <0.001). Conclusion These results suggest that training that focuses on aspects of change relevant to behaviour can favourably influence care staff's knowledge and attributions of controllability within the context of people with Down syndrome and dementia.