Amherst Area's Palliative Care Education a Success

CANCER CARE N.S.--Amherst Area's Palliative Care Education a Success

Amherst area residents are receiving improved palliative care services from better trained health-care workers thanks to Cancer Care Nova Scotia's Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program, says an evaluation released today, March 31.

Eighty-two health professionals from across Cumberland Health Authority completed an evaluation after taking the three-day program. All feedback was positive. The evaluation indicates that program content was appropriate, meaningful and applicable to the daily work of health care providers. Through pre- and post- testing, participants demonstrated both an increase in and retention of knowledge.

"Palliative and supportive care is an essential component of a high-quality cancer system," said Dr. Andrew Padmos, commissioner, Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "The Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program has significantly increased the level of palliative care expertise available to Nova Scotia cancer patients and their families. It is providing health professionals with the knowledge they need to more skilfully manage the unique needs of their patients."

By covering such topics as pain management, spiritual and cultural considerations, and grief and bereavement, the Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual impacts of dealing with a life-threatening illness. It is designed to provide front-line health-care workers with the education they need to deliver high- quality palliative care.

"This initiative helps build confidence among health professionals throughout the province -- and patients ultimately benefit from their enhanced knowledge," said Health Minister Angus MacIsaac.

Cheryl Northcott, vice-president, patient care for the Cumberland Health Authority, praised the Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program for providing an opportunity to front-line care providers to benefit from Cancer Care Nova Scotia education at the district level.

"The provision of palliative care in Cumberland County focuses on an interdisciplinary team approach," she said. "This program provides consistent information to health professionals across a continuum of services, and helps us continue to provide safe, quality palliative and supportive care to patients and their families."

Palliative Care Front-Line Education encourages collaboration and the development of community partnerships by incorporating an interprofessional, team approach to education. To build on the program's success and further enhance the quality of palliative care services in Nova Scotia, Cancer Care Nova Scotia will provide continued support to districts that continue to regularly offer the three-day program.

"This program provided me with a tremendous amount of knowledge and understanding of palliative care," said Linda Letcher, Victorian Order of Nurses palliative care volunteer and continuing care student at Nova Scotia Community College. "It allowed me to recognize ways I can enhance the care and support I provide to patients and their families, and enabled me to better communicate with and comfort them. It has given me the confidence that I need to make a difference in the life of a patient."

The Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program was developed in response to a needs assessment and a Palliative Care Roundtable hosted by Cancer Care Nova Scotia. It was modelled after the Rural Palliative Home Care Project, a federal health transition project conducted in 1999 and 2000.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia is a program of the Department of Health, created to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals, families and the health-care system through prevention, screening, education and research.