Increasing self-efficacy and knowledge in carer training: Hispanic versus Caucasian.

There was no control group, so the before-after increases cannot be separated from the passage of time or other unmeasured changes. Carers were recruited by convenience from a limited geographical area, so they may not represent other communities. The two groups differed in age, employment, education, and relationship to the care recipient, so gains may reflect those differences rather than language or culture. Outcomes were self-reported confidence and knowledge, not patient outcomes or observed care quality. Assessment occurred only at the end of the workshop, so it is unknown whether gains lasted. Trainers had different backgrounds and consistent delivery of training in the field was difficult to assure.

No author conflicts of interest are reported in the supplied article text. The publication types note U.S. Government, non-P.H.S. support.

Do not conclude that the workshop, Spanish translation, or fifth-grade reading level alone caused the gains. The carers received a 4-hour trainer-led workshop, a take-home guide, translated low-reading-level materials, and group interaction together, and the study did not include a control group, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.