Colchester, East Hants' Palliative Care Education a Success
CANCER CARE N.S.--Colchester, East Hants' Palliative Care Education a Success
Truro and 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.
One-hundred-thirty health professionals from Colchester East Hants Health Authority completed an evaluation after taking the three-day program. All feedback was positive. The evaluation indicates that the 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.
The Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program 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 offer the three-day program.
"The Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program gives care providers a better understanding of the unique issues palliative care patients and their families are facing," said Heather MacGregor, nurse manager, Colchester East Hants Health Authority. "More health professionals in our district should have the opportunity to benefit from this program, as it provides a more standardized approach to patient care in a palliative setting."
Gale Maskell, a paramedic who completed the Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program last spring, said it opened her eyes to a lot of important issues. "It's especially helpful for health professionals like me who don't specialize in palliative care, but encounter it from time to time as part of our daily work," she said. "As participants, we came from wide range of health- care backgrounds, and we all walked away with the additional confidence and knowledge we need to do our jobs more comfortably and effectively."
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.