%0 Journal Article
%T Self
%A Alice Coates
%A Jane Fossey
%J Dementia
%@ 1741-2684
%D 2019
%R 10.1177/1471301216682627
%X Perceived self-efficacy is proposed to impact on the psychological health of dementia care staff. The current study adopted a qualitative methodology to increase understanding of the experiences of self-efficacious care assistants. Purposive sampling identified eight care assistants with high levels of self-efficacy. Data from semi-structured interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes captured experiences of ¡®feeling torn¡¯ between competing demands when providing care; a sense of ¡®togetherness and connection¡¯, included sub-themes of support, closeness and the value of engaging; ¡®emotional attunement¡¯ to resident¡¯s needs, including reciprocity of emotion, personal perspective-taking and empathy as guides to care. The final theme, ¡®caring as a part of life¡¯, described interest, motivation and accepting attitudes as well as caring being part of carers¡¯ identity. The themes highlight how staff might manage the dilemmas they face and emphasize important areas for care staff training as well as further research
%K dementia
%K care assistant
%K care staff
%K self-efficacy
%K experience
%K qualitative
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1471301216682627