One-week multidisciplinary post-graduate palliative care training: an outcome-based program evaluation

Piret Paal,Andreas Stähli,Elisabeth Jentschke,Johannes Bükki,Anna Ersteniuk,Frank Elsner,Cornelia Brandstötter,Iryna Slugotska

doi:10.1186/s12909-020-02200-7

Abstract

BackgroundA multi-professional, post-graduate, one-week palliative care training program was piloted in November 2019 at the University of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. A formal evaluation of this program was performed.MethodsThis is a comparative, retrospective outcome-based evaluation of an educational intervention. Participants completed evaluation forms at the end of the course (post-intervention = T1), covering demographics, comparative retrospective self-assessment (40 items, 6-point Likert scale), organizational aspects, and general feedback (free text). At T1, the responses represent actual self-assessment, pre-interventional (T0) scores were generated by retrospective self-assessment. The Retrospective Performance Gain (RPG) was calculated on group level for the comparative self-assessment, demographic and organizational variables were analyzed by descriptive statistics, and free text answers were processed by qualitative methodology (content analysis).ResultsFifty-three of 56 attendants from all professions relevant to palliative care completed the evaluation forms (response 94,6%), with mean age 39y (22–64) and mean working experience 13,6y (1–44). Overall ratings of the program were very positive. Comparative retrospective self-assessment demonstrated a marked RPG from T0 to T1 on all items. Free text comments emphasized the need for regular nation-wide educational programs and for further education in bereavement care; inter-professional practice; communication; palliative care philosophy; professional self-care; specific nursing skills; dementia care; and advocacy, while the general contribution of the program to palliative care development in Ukraine was acknowledged.ConclusionsSystematic evaluation of a post-graduate international training program in palliative care may provide a mutual learning experience and map country-specific barriers and facilitators that have to be addressed when setting up palliative care services.

Highlights

A multi-professional, post-graduate, one-week palliative care training program was piloted in November 2019 at the University of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine
The method of data collection relied on asking course participants to evaluate the course and assess their palliative care competencies based on a novel self-assessment strategy at the end of the training week
Setting The overall aim of this course was to promote the idea of timely integration of palliative care services, encourage networking and communication across the disciplines, and enhance self-care, self-reflection, and team building

Summary

Introduction

A multi-professional, post-graduate, one-week palliative care training program was piloted in November 2019 at the University of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine. The Atlas of Palliative Care in Europe (2019) has indicated that while most countries have established some kind of legal framework for the provision of palliative care, only in twelve out of 53 countries patients’ palliative care needs are routinely screened by primary care, meaning that most countries provide palliative care only in the last month of life [6]. It has been the long-standing credo of the palliative care community to facilitate and offer basic palliative care training to all medical and nursing students. Despite all efforts, implementing a palliative care training program is rarely part of a national strategy, but rather depends on largely individual non-governmental advocacy [8]

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