Keywords
How to Cite
Abstract
Demographic ageing in Portugal and Europe increases the need for qualified gerontological caregivers. Vocational education and training (VET) is identified as a strategy to develop essential technical and interpersonal skills. Objective:To analyse the integration of vocational education in the training of gerontological caregivers through a systematic literature review (2020–2025). Methods: The PRISMA methodology was followed; literature searches were conducted in SCOPUS, PubMed/PMC, Web of Science, CINAHL, and institutional reports (CEDEFOP, IADB, WHO). Criteria:Articles published between 2020 and 2025, in English or Portuguese, with full text available; original studies and reviews were included. Results: Forty-eight studies were included, describing hybrid models (theory plus practice/internship), adapted digital interventions (e.g., iSupport-Portugal), micro-credentials, and programmes centred on psychosocial competencies. Frequently emphasised competencies included technical care, dementia management, communication, assessment, and care planning. Programmes with a practical component and mentoring showed better learning transfer. Identified gaps include a scarcity of longitudinal studies and limited evidence regarding impact on care recipients. Conclusion: Vocational education has the potential to professionalise caregivers and improve quality of care; however, policies are needed to strengthen funding, recognition of micro-credentials, and impact research.
References
Baruah, U., Varghese, M., Loganathan, S., Mehta, K. M., Gallagher-Thompson, D., & Zandy, D. (2021). Feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of an online training and support program for caregivers of people with dementia in India: A randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 36(4), 606–617. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.5502
Blume, B. D., Ford, J. K., Baldwin, T. T., & Huang, J. L. (2010). Transfer of training: A meta-analytic review. Journal of Management, 36(4), 1065–1105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309352880
Drummond, M. F., Sculpher, M. J., Claxton, K., Stoddart, G. L., & Torrance, G. W. (2015). Methods for the economic evaluation of health care programmes (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. (2020). Vocational education and training in Europe: Database 2020. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu
European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training. (2023). European inventory on validation of non-formal and informal learning: Portugal 2023 update. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.cedefop.europa.eu
Eurostat. (2023). Ageing Europe: Looking at the lives of older people in the EU. Publications Office of the European Union. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat
Fernandes, L., Gonçalves-Pereira, M., Leuschner, A., Martins, S., Sobral, M., Azevedo, L. F., Pires, C. L., Lopes, M. J., & Fernandes-Pires, J. (2022). Validation of the Portuguese version of the Caregiver Burden Inventory in dementia caregivers. Aging & Mental Health, 26(2), 288–296. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2020.1857689
Glasgow, R. E., Harden, S. M., Gaglio, B., Rabin, B., Smith, M. L., Porter, G. C., Ory, M. G., & Estabrooks, P. A. (2019). RE-AIM planning and evaluation framework: Adapting to new science and practice with a 20-year review. Frontiers in Public Health, 7, 64. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2019.00064
González-Fraile, E., Ballesteros, J., Rueda, J. R., Santos-Zorrozúa, B., Solà, I., & McCleery, J. (2021). Remotely delivered information, training and support for informal caregivers of people with dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 1, CD006440. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD006440.pub3
Hussein, S., & Manthorpe, J. (2023). Demographic and professional characteristics of the adult social care workforce in England: Findings from the National Minimum Dataset for Social Care. Health & Social Care in the Community, 2023, Article 1582365. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1582365
Instituto Nacional de Estatística. (2021). Projeções de população residente em Portugal 2020–2080. INE. https://www.ine.pt
Inter-American Development Bank. (2023). Toward the professionalization of caregivers: Training and skills needed for long-term care. IDB Publications. https://doi.org/10.18235/0004899
Kolb, D. A. (1984). Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Prentice Hall.
Newbould, L., Samsi, K., & Wilberforce, M. R. (2022). Developing effective workforce training to support the long-term care of older adults: A review of reviews. Health & Social Care in the Community, 30(6), e3839–e3854. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13897
Nolan, M. R., Brown, J., Davies, S., Nolan, J., & Keady, J. (2006). The Senses Framework: Improving care for older people through a relationship-centred approach. Getting Research into Practice (GRiP) Report No 2. University of Sheffield.
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., ... Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Popay, J., Roberts, H., Sowden, A., Petticrew, M., Arai, L., Rodgers, M., Britten, N., Roen, K., & Duffy, S. (2006). Guidance on the conduct of narrative synthesis in systematic reviews. ESRC Methods Programme.
Rasmussen, B. M., Andersen, P. T., Waldorff, F. B., & Berg-Beckhoff, G. (2023). Effectiveness of dementia education for professional care staff and factors influencing staff-related outcomes: An overview of systematic reviews. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 142, 104469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2023.104469
Scales, K., Zimmerman, S., & Miller, S. J. (2018). Evidence-based nonpharmacological practices to address behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. The Gerontologist, 58(Suppl 1), S88–S102. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnx167
Sousa, L. M., Marques-Vieira, C. M., Severino, S. S., & Antunes, A. V. (2024). Metodologia de revisão integrativa da literatura em enfermagem. Revista Investigação em Enfermagem, 21(2), 17–26.
Surr, C. A., Gates, C., Irving, D., Oyebode, J., Smith, S. J., Parveen, S., Drury, M., & Dennison, A. (2020). Effective dementia education and training for the health and social care workforce: A systematic review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 87(5), 966–1002. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654317723305
Teles, S., Paúl, C., Seeher, K., & Freels, S. (2020). Online training and support program (iSupport) for informal dementia caregivers: Protocol for an intervention study in Portugal. BMC Geriatrics, 20(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-019-1364-z
Teles, S., Ferreira, A., Seeher, K., Fréel, S., & Paúl, C. (2022). Feasibility of an online training and support program for dementia carers in Portugal: Results from a mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled trial of the Portuguese iSupport. BMC Geriatrics, 22(1), 173. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-02831-z
Tufanaru, C., Munn, Z., Aromataris, E., Campbell, J., & Hopp, L. (2020). Systematic reviews of effectiveness. In E. Aromataris & Z. Munn (Eds.), JBI manual for evidence synthesis. JBI. https://doi.org/10.46658/JBIMES-20-04
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. (2021). Active Ageing Index: Analytical report 2020. UNECE. https://unece.org/population/active-ageing-index
Ward-Griffin, C., McWilliam, C. L., & Oudshoorn, A. (2021). Relational experiences of family caregivers providing home-based end-of-life care. Journal of Family Nursing, 18(4), 491–516. https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840712462134
Williamson, P. R., Altman, D. G., Bagley, H., Barnes, K. L., Blazeby, J. M., Brookes, S. T., Clarke, M., Gargon, E., Gorst, S., Harman, N., Kirkham, J. J., McNair, A., Prinsen, C. A. C., Schmitt, J., Terwee, C. B., & Young, B. (2017). The COMET handbook: Version 1.0. Trials, 18(Suppl 3), 280. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-1978-4
Windle, G., Gregory, S., Newman, A., Goulding, A., O'Brien, D., & Parkinson, C. (2022). Understanding cognition and well-being in older age: Differential effects of social support. The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 77(7), 1265–1276. https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbab220
World Health Organization. (2019). Risk reduction of cognitive decline and dementia: WHO guidelines. WHO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550543
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hugo Carvalho, Jorge Castro (Author)