Testing the Relationship Between Personal/Home Care Aide Trainees’ Career Goals and Their Commitment to Home Care

Abstract

Using a pre-training and post-training survey research design, 683 participants completed a personal/home care aide (P/HCA) training program. After training, participants chose a career goal and were placed in one of the following groups: (1) only goal to be a P/HCA, (2) become a certified nurse aide/assistant or home health aide, (3) become a licensed vocational nurse, or (4) go to college to earn a degree in a health-related area. Factor analysis of home care commitment items indicated two measures: home care intent and stepping stone. Group 2 trainees had a significantly higher home care intent than trainees in Groups 1 and 4. However, Groups 2, 3, and 4 were each more likely to view P/HCA training as a “stepping stone to higher level jobs” than Group 1.