Piret Paal1, Cornelia Brandstötter1, Stefan Lorenzl2,3, Philip Larkin2,4, Frank Elsner5. 1. WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research and Education, Institute for Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical Private University, Salzburg, Austria. 2. Professorship for Palliative Care, Paracelsus Medical Private University, Salzburg, Austria. 3. Department of Neurology and Palliative Medicine, Hospital Agatharied GmbH, Hausham, Germany. 4. Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. 5. Palliative Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Palliative care training at basic, intermediate, and specialist levels, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is challenging to access in resource-poor countries and regions. Providing support in this regard would seem a moral imperative for all countries with established palliative care education systems and a strong resource base. In collaboration with WHO European Office and European Association for Palliative Care, this paper looks into the educational requirements in palliative care at postgraduate level within Europe. METHOD: A survey was specifically designed to gather opinions and comments on elements of palliative care education from European experts. Participants were invited to assess the European Association for Palliative Care core competencies on a five-item scale and to define essential learning goals. Survey data were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Software. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed. RESULT: A total of 195 data sets were recorded; 82 were completed fully. The statistical analysis revealed a high agreement regarding the key elements of palliative care education. The thematic analysis indicated that at postgraduate level all healthcare providers need to (1) comprehend the palliative care philosophy, (2) be able to demonstrate the complex symptom assessment and management competencies, (3) be able to design care plans based on patients and families wishes integrating multiprofessional and interdisciplinary approaches, and (4) be able to listen and self-reflect. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: According to the WHO, inadequate skills and capacities of healthcare workers are one of the four barriers hindering the access to palliative care. This paper contains a new and comprehensive list of learning goals essential for multidisciplinary postgraduate palliative care education. Besides highlighting the relevant competencies, the article provides best-practice toolboxes with teaching and assessment methods. The article comments on the WHO's palliative care definition and underpins the importance of the role of the education in knowledge development and skills acquisition.
OBJECTIVE: Palliative care training at basic, intermediate, and specialist levels, recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), is challenging to access in resource-poor countries and regions. Providing support in this regard would seem a moral imperative for all countries with established palliative care education systems and a strong resource base. In collaboration with WHO European Office and European Association for Palliative Care, this paper looks into the educational requirements in palliative care at postgraduate level within Europe. METHOD: A survey was specifically designed to gather opinions and comments on elements of palliative care education from European experts. Participants were invited to assess the European Association for Palliative Care core competencies on a five-item scale and to define essential learning goals. Survey data were statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics Software. Qualitative data were thematically analyzed. RESULT: A total of 195 data sets were recorded; 82 were completed fully. The statistical analysis revealed a high agreement regarding the key elements of palliative care education. The thematic analysis indicated that at postgraduate level all healthcare providers need to (1) comprehend the palliative care philosophy, (2) be able to demonstrate the complex symptom assessment and management competencies, (3) be able to design care plans based on patients and families wishes integrating multiprofessional and interdisciplinary approaches, and (4) be able to listen and self-reflect. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: According to the WHO, inadequate skills and capacities of healthcare workers are one of the four barriers hindering the access to palliative care. This paper contains a new and comprehensive list of learning goals essential for multidisciplinary postgraduate palliative care education. Besides highlighting the relevant competencies, the article provides best-practice toolboxes with teaching and assessment methods. The article comments on the WHO's palliative care definition and underpins the importance of the role of the education in knowledge development and skills acquisition.
Entities:
Keywords:
Curriculum development; Palliative care; Post-graduate education; Train the trainers; Training requirements
Authors: Maria Dos Anjos Dixe; Irene Dixe de Oliveira Santo; Saudade Lopes; Helena Catarino; Susana Duarte; Ana Querido; Carlos Laranjeira Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-06-27 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Simon Schwill; Dorothee Reith; Tobias Walter; Peter Engeser; Michel Wensing; Elisabeth Flum; Joachim Szecsenyi; Katja Krug Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2020-03-24 Impact factor: 3.234
Authors: Piret Paal; Cornelia Brandstötter; Johannes Bükki; Frank Elsner; Anna Ersteniuk; Elisabeth Jentschke; Andreas Stähli; Iryna Slugotska Journal: BMC Med Educ Date: 2020-08-18 Impact factor: 2.463
Authors: Carla Reigada; Santiago Hermida-Romero; Anna Sandgren; Beatriz Gómez; Inés Olza; Alejandro Navas; Carlos Centeno Journal: Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being Date: 2021-12