Interprofessional Core Curriculum Launched

Nova Scotians will get better care from health professionals thanks to Interprofessional Core Curriculum (ICC), a continuing education program launched today, April 19, by Cancer Care Nova Scotia.

"ICC represents the beginning of a new and exciting era in continuing clinical education in cancer care," said Dr. Andrew Padmos, commissioner, Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "Before we developed ICC, We surveyed health professionals to determine their needs. Using this information, together with evidence and building on best practice approaches, we developed the program.

"We've tested the program and the response from health professionals has been overwhelmingly positive. As a result of ICC, cancer patients and families can be confident that their health providers will have the knowledge and skills needed to ensure all Nova Scotians continue to receive high quality, evidence-based cancer care."

The program has 10 modules, including pain management, symptom management, treatment and side effects. Each module is designed to increase health professionals' knowledge and skills and to promote changes in their professional practice. Ultimately, the program's goals are to improve patient outcomes and patient/family satisfaction.

"It is important to support our cancer professionals with continuing education, providing them with the required tools to keep abreast in a field that makes continuous progress daily -- both in treatment and research," said Health Minister Angus MacIsaac. "The quality of care for patients and families will benefit from this unique continuing care program."

The ICC modules are interactive and delivered in a team environment with nurses, physicians, social workers, pharmacists and representatives of other health disciplines.

This interprofessional approach to continuing clinical education makes the program unique in Canada.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia officials decided to use the interprofessional approach because needs assessments indicated a number of health professionals were interested in similar topics and in learning more about each others' jobs. The often complex treatments for cancer also mean that many professionals may be involved in the same patient's care and evidence suggests that team approaches, like the one being used in this training, work effectively in such instances.

The program was pilot-tested across the province, with 441 health professionals participating. Fifty-four per cent of participants were nurses, 23 per cent were pharmacists and 11 per cent were physicians. Evaluations of the program were positive, with participants reporting that they gained new skills and developed common approaches and enhanced understanding of one another's roles and responsibilities. The in-depth evaluation focused on health professionals' intended and self-reported changes in practice as well as changes in interprofessional collaboration.

As a result of the program, 74 per cent of respondents indicated that they were intending to make or were considering increasing their communication, collaboration, consultation and teamwork with other health professionals. This will help improve patient assessment, communication between health care professionals and their patients, and management of patient pain and treatment side effects.

In addition, 56 per cent of respondents indicated they were intending to make or were considering more frequent referrals to and consultation with community specialists; greater participation as a member of a care team; and increased information sharing.

Dr. David Abriel, palliative care physician, South Shore Health Palliative Care Services, was a member of the curriculum-working group. He is also one of the program's facilitators and is a strong proponent in the value of a team approach to both learning and the delivery of care.

"Phenomenal things happen when health professionals learn together in a team environment," said Dr. Abriel. "ICC will keep us current on the many advances in cancer care and because of the program's interprofessional approach, we will also gain a better understanding of one another's roles and the value that each of us brings to the care team. As a result, we will work better together and our patients will benefit greatly."

ICC was developed by Cancer Care Nova Scotia with expert assistance from Dalhousie University Continuing Medical Education, Dalhousie University Continuing Pharmacy Education and the Registered Nurses Professional Development Centre (a provincial program of the Department of Health).Content experts and Cancer Care Nova Scotia's Interprofessional Education Advisory Group and Curriculum Working Group were also involved.

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 and research. It also aims to lessen the fear of cancer through education and information. Its programs are centred in the community, compassionate to patients, cost-effective and based on sound research.