Can Delirium Be Prevented in Palliative Care? Incorporating the Lessons of Geriatrics, Oncology, and Surgery (505)

Abstract

Objectives 1. Discuss the importance of having a self-care and a self-awareness plan when caring for Hospice and Palliative Care patients. 2. Identify validated methods to increase selfcare, enhance self-awareness and improve patient care and satisfaction. 3. Discuss with colleagues on personal practices with regard to self-care and self-awareness and lessons learned from experience. Patients and families who are cared by Hospice and Palliative Care (HPC) clinicians experience numerous physical, spiritual, and psychosocial challenges. Responding to the always tangible suffering of their patients, HPC clinicians become closely involved in patient care, often forgetting to fulfill their own personal needs. It is not uncommon that many clinicians, both men and women, junior and senior, experience burnout in the absence of self-care and self-awareness. Moreover, competencies for HPC fellows now include domains of self-care and self-reflection that must be met as part of their training. As described by Maslow, levels of self-care such as adequate sleep, love, belonging, security and well-being of the family are crucial to being human. When these basic needs are not met, burnout manifests as a form of mental distress with decreased work performance and negative attitudes and behaviors. Furthermore, self-awareness, a stance that permits the clinician to simultaneously attend to the needs of the patient and oneself, may both enhance self-care and improve patient care and satisfaction. This session will first describe the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in depth, with a particular focus on encouraging reflective practice focused on self-care. Subsequently, junior, mid-career and senior HPM clinicians will share their life experiences and lessons learned as they relate to selfcare. Participants will (a) reflect on self-care and will work on a concrete self-awareness plan, (b) discuss alternatives to include and improve self-care as a career priority such as peersupport groups and educational initiatives, and (c) use validated methods to enhance HPC clinicians’ self-awareness such as mindfulness meditation and reflective writing. Large and small group brain-storming will be encouraged to devise creative solutions and discuss alternatives to de-clutter, prioritize and act according to one’s values. Networking opportunities will also be emphasized and encouraged.