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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: We developed a novel individualised training program regarding end-of-life communication, designed to be time effective for busy junior-doctors working in hospital settings. AIM: We aimed to pilot this brief individualised training program with junior-doctors to explore its acceptability, feasibility and effect on the doctors' confidence, communication skills, attitudes towards psychosocial care and burnout. DESIGN: The content of the training intervention was informed by a systematic literature review and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines regarding end-of-life communication. The intervention was based on sound educational principles and involved three one-hour teaching sessions over a three-week period, including two individual sessions with an expert facilitator and simulated patient/caregiver. In addition, participants received written and audiovisual take-home learning materials.Participants were videotaped consulting with a simulated patient/caregiver pre/post training to assess the impact of the course on their communication behaviours. Participants completed de-identified questionnaires pre/post training, including self-assessed confidence, attitudes to psychosocial care, and the Maslach Burnout inventory. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included 22 junior-doctors from a large teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia. RESULTS: All participants reported that the training was useful, had been helpful for their communication with patients and that they would recommend the training to others. Significant improvements were found in participants' communication skills (in seven out of 21 specific and all three global communication behaviours assessed, range P=0.02 to <0.001), confidence in communicating about relevant topics (P<0.001), attitudes towards psychosocial care (P=0.03) and sense of personal accomplishment (P=0.043). There were no overall differences in participants' burnout levels. CONCLUSION: This intervention shows promise and warrants further formal evaluation.
Palliative Medicine 06/2012; · 2.38 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: There is uncertainty regarding the preferred content and phrasing of information when discussing life expectancy with terminally ill cancer patients and their carers. The objective of this study was to explore the various stakeholders' perceptions about these issues.
We conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 19 patients with advanced cancer and 24 carers from three different palliative care (PC) services in Sydney and 22 PC health professionals (HPs) from ten different sites in Australia. The focus groups and individual interviews were audiotaped and fully transcribed. Further focus groups and/or individual interviews were conducted until no additional topics were raised. Participants' narratives were analysed using qualitative methodology.
Participants' suggestions regarding the content of prognostic discussions included: explaining uncertainty and limitations, explaining the process involved with making survival predictions, and avoiding being too exact. Those patients and carers who wanted to be given a time frame mostly wanted to know how long the average person with their condition would live and/or be given a rough range. HPs had various views regarding ways to phrase life expectancy: days versus weeks versus months, likelihood of the patients being alive for certain events, a rough quantitative range and probabilities (e.g. 10% and 50% survival). However, most HPs said they would rarely if ever give statistical information to patients.
This paper provides some potential strategies, words and phrases which may inform discussions about life expectancy. Further research is needed to determine the generalizability of these findings.
Supportive Care Cancer 10/2005; 13(9):733-42. · 2.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Discussing end-of-life issues is of key importance to terminally ill cancer patients and their families, and a challenging topic for both health professionals and patients/carers. There is a lack of research evidence in the literature to guide clinical practice. The objective of this study was to explore the optimal content and phrasing of information when discussing the dying process and end-of-life issues with terminally ill cancer patients and their carers.
We conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 19 palliative care patients and 24 carers from three palliative care services in Sydney, and 22 palliative care health professionals from around Australia. The focus groups and individual interviews were audiotaped and fully transcribed. Further focus groups and/or individual interviews were conducted until no additional topics were raised. Participants' narratives were analysed using qualitative methodology.
Distinct content areas emerged for discussing end-of-life issues: treatment decisions at the end-of-life; potential future symptoms; preferences for place of death; the process of dying; what needs to be done immediately after death; and existential issues. When discussing the process of dying participants recommended: exploring the persons' fears about dying and dispelling myths; describing the final days and the likely unconscious period; and the reduced need for food and fluids. Many participants identified the dilemma regarding whether to discuss potential complications around the time of death.
This paper provides strategies, words and phrases which may inform discussions about the process of dying and end-of-life issues. Further research is needed to determine the generalizability of these findings.
Supportive Care Cancer 09/2005; 13(8):589-99. · 2.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: It is challenging for clinicians to foster coping and allow hope when discussing prognosis and end-of-life (EOL) issues with terminally ill cancer patients and their caregivers. To the authors' knowledge, little research evidence is currently available to guide clinical practice.
The authors conducted focus groups and individual interviews with 19 patients with far advanced cancer and 24 caregivers from 3 palliative care (PC) services in Sydney, and 22 PC health professionals (HPs) from around Australia. The focus groups and individual interviews were audiotaped and fully transcribed. Additional focus groups or individual interviews were conducted until no additional topics were raised. The participants' narratives were analyzed using qualitative methodology.
All participant groups believed there were ways of fostering coping and nurturing hope when discussing prognosis and EOL issues. Themes identified from the transcripts regarding ways of helping patients with a limited life expectancy to cope were: 1) emphasize what can be done (namely: a) control of physical symptoms; b) emotional support, care, and dignity; and c) practical support), 2) explore realistic goals, and 3) discuss day-to-day living. Two additional themes were identified regarding ways of fostering hope: the balance between truth telling and nurturing hope, and the spectrum of hope. All these themes were raised by the patients, caregivers, and HPs. However, there were some differences of opinion within the three participant groups.
The results of the current study demonstrated that most participants believed there were ways of fostering coping and maintaining hope and that HPs have a role in facilitating this with terminally ill cancer patients and their caregivers.
Cancer 06/2005; 103(9):1965-75. · 4.77 Impact Factor
