What are the differences among occupational groups related to their palliative care-specific educational needs and intensity of interprofessional collaboration in long-term care homes?

BMC Palliative Care

Research Article

L. McCleary¹  D. Parker²  V. Dal Bello-Haas³  A. Papaioannou³  M. Bui³  N. Akhtar-Danesh³  J. O’Leary³  S. Kaasalainen⁴  T. Sussman⁵  K. Brazil⁶  A. Wickson Griffiths⁷  R. D. Laporte⁸ 

[1] Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada;Deborah Parker, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia;Faculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, L8N 3Z5, Hamilton, ON, Canada;Faculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, L8N 3Z5, Hamilton, ON, Canada;Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK;McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada;Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, UK;University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada;University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada;

关键词: Palliative care;    Long-term care;    Interprofessional care;    Aged care;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12904-017-0207-y

 received in 2016-08-09, accepted in 2017-05-03,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to compare the differences across occupational groups related to their end-of-life care-specific educational needs and reported intensity of interprofessional collaboration in long-term care (LTC) homes.MethodsA cross-sectional survey, based on two questionnaires, was administered at four LTC homes in Ontario, Canada using a modified Dilman’s approach. The first questionnaire, End of Life Professional Caregiver Survey, included three domains: patients and family-centered communication, cultural and ethical values, effective care delivery. The Intensity of Interprofessional Collaboration Scale included two subscales: care sharing activities, and interprofessional coordination. In total, 697 LTC staff were given surveys, including personal support workers, support staff (housekeeping, kitchen, recreation, laundry, dietician aids, office staff), and registered staff (licensed nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, pharmacists, physicians).ResultsA total of 317 participants completed the survey (126 personal support workers, 109 support staff, 82 registered staff) for a response rate of 45%. Significant differences emerged among occupational groups across all scales and subscales. Specifically, support staff rated their comfort of working with dying patients significantly lower than both nurses and PSWs. Support staff also reported significantly lower ratings of care sharing activities and interprofessional coordination compared to both registered staff and personal support workers.ConclusionsThese study findings suggest there are differing educational needs and sense of interprofessional collaboration among LTC staff, specific to discipline group. Both the personal support workers and support staff groups appeared to have higher needs for education; support staff also reported higher needs related to integration on the interdisciplinary team. Efforts to build capacity within support staff related to working with dying residents and their families are needed. Optimal palliative care may require resources to increase the availability of support for all staff involved in the care of patients.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017