Family physicians enhance end-of-life care: evaluation of a new continuing medical education learning module in British Columbia

BMC Medical Education

Marcus Hollander¹  Liza Kallstrom²  Catherine Clelland²  Marcus J. Hollander¹  Helena Kadlec¹ 

[1] Hollander Analytical Services Ltd, 300-895 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, Canada;Practice Support Program, Doctors of BC, 115 - 1665 W. Broadway, Vancouver V6J 5A4, BC, Canada

关键词: Evaluation;    Practice change;    Continuing education;    Primary care;    End-of-life care;   

Others  :  1224514
DOI  :  10.1186/s12909-015-0392-4

 received in 2015-02-06, accepted in 2015-06-12,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

The Practice Support Program (PSP) is an innovative peer-to-peer continuing medical education (CME) program that offers full-service family physicians/general practitioners (GPs) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, post-graduate training on a variety of topics. We present the evaluation findings from the PSP learning module on enhancing end-of-life (EOL) care within primary care.

Methods

Pen-and-paper surveys were administered to participants three times: at the beginning of the first training session (n = 608; 69.6 % response rate), at training completion (n = 381, 55.6 % response rate), and via a mail-out survey at 3-6 months following training completion (n = 109, 24.8 % response rate). Surveys asked GPs about current EOL-related practices and confidence in EOL-related skills. At end of training, respondents also provided ratings of satisfaction and perceptions of the module’s impact on their practice and their EOL patients.

Results

Satisfaction and impact were rated very highly by over 90 % of the GP respondents. Module participation increased the GPs’ confidence on EOL-related communication and collaboration skills: e.g., initiating conversations about EOL care, developing an action plan for EOL care, communicating the patient’s needs and wishes to other care providers, participating in collaborative care with home and community care nurses, and accessing and referring patients to EOL specialists in the community. Increased confidence was maintained at 3-6 months following completion of training.

Conclusions

The EOL learning module offered by the PSP to family physicians in BC is a successful and impactful CME accredited training module for enhancing end-of-life care in primary care settings.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Kadlec et al.

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