Rachel W Linnemann1, Patricia J O'Malley1, Deborah Friedman2, Anna M Georgiopoulos2, David Buxton2, Lily L Altstein3, Leonard Sicilian4, Allen Lapey1, Gregory S Sawicki5, Samuel M Moskowitz6. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: smoskowitz@mgh.harvard.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Primary palliative care refers to basic skills that all healthcare providers can employ to improve quality of life for patients at any stage of disease. Training in these core skills is not commonly provided to clinicians caring for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The objective of this study was to assess change in comfort with core skills among care team members after participation in CF-specific palliative care training focused on management of burdensome symptoms and difficult conversations. METHODS: A qualitative needs assessment was performed to inform the development of an 18-hour curriculum tailored to the chronicity and complexity of CF care. A 32-question pre- and post-course survey assessed CF provider comfort with the targeted palliative care skills in 5 domains using a 5-point Likert scale (1=very uncomfortable, 3=neutral, 5=very comfortable). RESULTS: Among course participants (n=16), mean overall comfort score increased by 0.9, from 3 (neutral) to 3.9 (comfortable) (p<0.001). Mean comfort level increased significantly (range 0.8 to 1.4) in each skill domain: use of supportive care resources, pain management, non-pain symptom management, communication, and psychosocial skills. CONCLUSIONS: CF-specific palliative care training was well received by participants and significantly improved self-assessed comfort with core skills.
BACKGROUND: Primary palliative care refers to basic skills that all healthcare providers can employ to improve quality of life for patients at any stage of disease. Training in these core skills is not commonly provided to clinicians caring for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The objective of this study was to assess change in comfort with core skills among care team members after participation in CF-specific palliative care training focused on management of burdensome symptoms and difficult conversations. METHODS: A qualitative needs assessment was performed to inform the development of an 18-hour curriculum tailored to the chronicity and complexity of CF care. A 32-question pre- and post-course survey assessed CF provider comfort with the targeted palliative care skills in 5 domains using a 5-point Likert scale (1=very uncomfortable, 3=neutral, 5=very comfortable). RESULTS: Among course participants (n=16), mean overall comfort score increased by 0.9, from 3 (neutral) to 3.9 (comfortable) (p<0.001). Mean comfort level increased significantly (range 0.8 to 1.4) in each skill domain: use of supportive care resources, pain management, non-pain symptom management, communication, and psychosocial skills. CONCLUSIONS: CF-specific palliative care training was well received by participants and significantly improved self-assessed comfort with core skills.
Authors: Elisabeth P Dellon; Melissa Basile; Mara R Hobler; Anna M Georgiopoulos; Elaine Chen; Jessica Goggin; Christopher H Goss; Sarah E Hempstead; Albert Faro; Dio Kavalieratos Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2020-02-05 Impact factor: 2.947
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Authors: Edith T Zemanick; Thida Ong; Cori L Daines; Elisabeth P Dellon; Marianne S Muhlebach; Charles R Esther Journal: Pediatr Pulmonol Date: 2016-04-13
Authors: Melissa Basile; Lincy Jojan; Mara R Hobler; Elisabeth P Dellon; Anna M Georgiopoulos; Jessica L Goggin; Elaine Chen; Christopher H Goss; Sarah E Hempstead; Albert Faro; Dio Kavalieratos Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2021-04-20 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Elizabeth T Trandel; Joseph M Pilewski; Elisabeth P Dellon; Kwonho Jeong; Jonathan G Yabes; Laura T Moreines; Robert M Arnold; Zachariah P Hoydich; Dio Kavalieratos Journal: J Cyst Fibros Date: 2019-12-18 Impact factor: 5.482
Authors: Dio Kavalieratos; Anna M Georgiopoulos; Lara Dhingra; Melissa J Basile; Elliot Rabinowitz; Sarah E Hempstead; Albert Faro; Elisabeth P Dellon Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2020-09-16 Impact factor: 2.947