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?

Abstract Background The 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. Methods A cross-sectional survey, based on two...

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Main Authors: S. Kaasalainen, T. Sussman, M. Bui, N. Akhtar-Danesh, R. D. Laporte, L. McCleary, A. Wickson Griffiths, K. Brazil, D. Parker, V. Dal Bello-Haas, A. Papaioannou, J. O’Leary, the SPA-LTC Team
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BioMed Central 2017-05-01
Series:BMC Palliative Care
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12904-017-0207-y
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spelling doaj-art-8bfda2eea323474a9be9c70db411d8142018-08-20T08:22:11ZengBioMed CentralBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2017-05-011611810.1186/s12904-017-0207-yWhat are the differences among occupational groups related to their palliative care-specific educational needs and intensity of interprofessional collaboration in long-term care homes?S. Kaasalainen0T. Sussman1M. Bui2N. Akhtar-Danesh3R. D. Laporte4L. McCleary5A. Wickson Griffiths6K. Brazil7D. Parker8V. Dal Bello-Haas9A. Papaioannou10J. O’Leary11the SPA-LTC TeamFaculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster UniversityMcGill UniversityFaculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster UniversityFaculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster UniversityUniversity of TorontoBrock UniversityUniversity of ReginaQueen’s University BelfastDeborah Parker, University of Western SydneyFaculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster UniversityFaculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster UniversityFaculty of Health Sciences, 3N25F, McMaster UniversityAbstract Background The 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. Methods A 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). Results A 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. Conclusions These 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.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12904-017-0207-yPalliative careLong-term careInterprofessional careAged care
institution Open Data Bank
collection Open Access Journals
building Directory of Open Access Journals
language English
format Article
author S. Kaasalainen
T. Sussman
M. Bui
N. Akhtar-Danesh
R. D. Laporte
L. McCleary
A. Wickson Griffiths
K. Brazil
D. Parker
V. Dal Bello-Haas
A. Papaioannou
J. O’Leary
the SPA-LTC Team
spellingShingle S. Kaasalainen
T. Sussman
M. Bui
N. Akhtar-Danesh
R. D. Laporte
L. McCleary
A. Wickson Griffiths
K. Brazil
D. Parker
V. Dal Bello-Haas
A. Papaioannou
J. O’Leary
the SPA-LTC Team
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
Palliative care
Long-term care
Interprofessional care
Aged care
author_facet S. Kaasalainen
T. Sussman
M. Bui
N. Akhtar-Danesh
R. D. Laporte
L. McCleary
A. Wickson Griffiths
K. Brazil
D. Parker
V. Dal Bello-Haas
A. Papaioannou
J. O’Leary
the SPA-LTC Team
author_sort S. Kaasalainen
title 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?
title_short 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?
title_full 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?
title_fullStr 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?
title_full_unstemmed 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?
title_sort 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?
publisher BioMed Central
series BMC Palliative Care
issn 1472-684X
publishDate 2017-05-01
description Abstract Background The 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. Methods A 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). Results A 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. Conclusions These 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.
topic Palliative care
Long-term care
Interprofessional care
Aged care
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12904-017-0207-y
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