Yarmouth Area's Palliative Care Education a Success
CANCER CARE N.S.--Yarmouth Area's Palliative Care Education a Success
Yarmouth 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.
Two-hundred-eighteen health professionals from South West Health 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 continue to regularly offer the three-day program.
"Although we don't have a funded palliative care program, we have offered the Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program to palliative care volunteers, caregivers and our staff," said Cathy Blades, vice-president community health, South West Health. "The program has provided awareness, knowledge and support for those who assist patients and families facing life-threatening illness."
Barb Gaudet, a palliative care volunteer, has had an interest in palliative care for 20 years. "The Palliative Care Front-Line Education Program gave me the motivation to do something I had always wanted to do," she said. "It provided me with an extensive understanding of palliative care, as well as the foundation of knowledge, compassion and understanding that I needed."
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.