T Biersching1, A Schweda2, K Oechsle3, F Nauck4, J Rosenbruch5, U Schuler6, J Hense1, M Neukirchen7,8, M Weber9, C Junghanss10, T Kramer11, C Ostgathe12, P Thuss-Patience13, B Van Oorschot14, M Teufel2, M Schuler1,15, C Bausewein5, M Tewes16. 1. West German Cancer Centre, Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany. 2. West German Cancer Centre, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Duisburg-Essen, LVR University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany. 3. Palliative Care Unit, Department for Oncology, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. 4. Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Centre Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. 5. Department of Palliative Medicine, LMU Munich Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Campus Großhadern, Munich, Germany. 6. University Palliative Care Centre, Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital, Dresden, Germany. 7. Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Tumor Centre Düsseldorf - Comprehensive Cancer Centre, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. 8. Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. 9. Interdisciplinary Department for Palliative Medicine, University Medicine Mainz, Johannes-Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. 10. Division of Medicine, Dept. of Haematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine, University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany. 11. Palliative Medicine at the University Centre for Tumor Diseases (UCT), University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. 12. Palliative Medicine Department, Comprehensive Cancer Centre CCC Erlangen-EMN, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. 13. University Tumor Centre, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Charité Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany. 14. Interdisciplinary Centre for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Julius-Maximilians-University, Würzburg, Germany. 15. German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Partner Location Essen University Hospital, Essen, Germany. 16. West German Cancer Centre, Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital Essen, 45147, Essen, Germany. mitra.tewes@uk-essen.de.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The effect of the duration of an educational rotation presented at a palliative care unit on the palliative care knowledge gain and the increase of palliative care self-efficacy expectations are unclear. METHODS: This national prospective multicenter pre-post survey conducted at twelve German University Comprehensive Cancer Centers prospectively enrolled physicians who were assigned to training rotations in specialized palliative care units for three, six, or twelve months. Palliative care knowledge [in %] and palliative care self-efficacy expectations [max. 57 points] were evaluated before and after the rotation with a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: From March 2018 to October 2020, questionnaires of 43 physicians were analyzed. Physicians participated in a 3- (n = 3), 6- (n = 21), or 12-month (n = 19) palliative care rotation after a median of 8 (0-19) professional years. The training background of rotating physicians covered a diverse spectrum of specialties; most frequently represented were medical oncology (n = 15), and anesthesiology (n = 11). After the rotation, median palliative care knowledge increased from 81.1% to 86.5% (p < .001), and median palliative care self-efficacy expectations scores increased from 38 to 50 points (p < .001). The effect of the 12-month rotation was not significantly greater than that of the 6-month rotation. CONCLUSION: An educational rotation presented in a specialized palliative care unit for at least six months significantly improves palliative care knowledge and palliative care self-efficacy expectations of physicians from various medical backgrounds.
PURPOSE: The effect of the duration of an educational rotation presented at a palliative care unit on the palliative care knowledge gain and the increase of palliative care self-efficacy expectations are unclear. METHODS: This national prospective multicenter pre-post survey conducted at twelve German University Comprehensive Cancer Centers prospectively enrolled physicians who were assigned to training rotations in specialized palliative care units for three, six, or twelve months. Palliative care knowledge [in %] and palliative care self-efficacy expectations [max. 57 points] were evaluated before and after the rotation with a validated questionnaire. RESULTS: From March 2018 to October 2020, questionnaires of 43 physicians were analyzed. Physicians participated in a 3- (n = 3), 6- (n = 21), or 12-month (n = 19) palliative care rotation after a median of 8 (0-19) professional years. The training background of rotating physicians covered a diverse spectrum of specialties; most frequently represented were medical oncology (n = 15), and anesthesiology (n = 11). After the rotation, median palliative care knowledge increased from 81.1% to 86.5% (p < .001), and median palliative care self-efficacy expectations scores increased from 38 to 50 points (p < .001). The effect of the 12-month rotation was not significantly greater than that of the 6-month rotation. CONCLUSION: An educational rotation presented in a specialized palliative care unit for at least six months significantly improves palliative care knowledge and palliative care self-efficacy expectations of physicians from various medical backgrounds.