Interprofessional Cancer Education in Annapolis Valley Health

Improved patient care is at the heart of a project designed to train cancer health professionals to provide cancer education to their peers.

Funded by Health Canada, with Cancer Care Nova Scotia as the project lead, Partners for Interprofessional Cancer Education has trained one health professional from Annapolis Valley Health as a facilitator.

The training provides expertise in interprofessional learning, collaborative, patient-centred care and cultural sensitivity and safety for First Nations communities. This facilitator will educate health professionals in their district. Together with 37 other facilitators from across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, they will reach more than 1,100 community-based health professionals over the next year.

"Canada's government commends Cancer Care Nova Scotia and its partners for their leadership in this project. By April 2008, more than 1,000 Nova Scotian health professionals will be better trained to help cancer patients," said Tony Clement, federal Minister of Health. "The introduction of interprofessional education across Nova Scotia will benefit not only the patients who will receive unprecedented treatment and support, but also the teams of professionals who work in cancer care."

"With the expertise and commitment of districts, and the strength of our other partners, we are extending the value and reach of Cancer Care Nova Scotia's original interprofessional education program, the interprofessional core curriculum," said Theresa Marie Underhill, chief operating officer, Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "Through this project, we are enhancing it, extending the training of health professionals and providing the necessary supports for them to deliver the interprofessional core curriculum to others."

"The collaboration across organizations and the interdisciplinary nature of this education program enriches the opportunity for skill development of our staff and physicians who provide care and support for cancer patients and their families," said Janet Knox, president and CEO, Annapolis Valley Health. "Annapolis Valley Health is pleased to be a project partner in this creative approach to education. We believe our patients, their families and their caregivers will all benefit from the opportunities created by this project."

Health professionals with an expertise in cancer or palliative care were recruited to participate in the training. Medical and radiation oncologists, palliative care physicians and nurses, social workers, pharmacists, nursing students from St. Francis Xavier University and First Nations representatives working in health were among those trained.

"As a result of PICE I have a greater understanding of the role of other health professionals and the value they bring to the health care team, said Dylana Arsenault-Thompkins, director of pharmacy services, Annapolis Valley Health, who was recently trained as an interprofessional facilitator. "Only when we sit together and communicate with the focus on the whole patient as a common thread does real learning occur. In learning together we build stronger relationships and this can only serve to enhance the quality of care we provide to our patients."

The Registered Nurses Professional Development Centre, in collaboration with other partners, implemented the first phase of the project, the development of the facilitator training program. First Nations consultants worked with the Registered Nurses Professional Development Centre to ensure cultural safety and sensitivity was woven throughout the training program. They also revised the case studies included in Cancer Care Nova Scotia's interprofessional core curriculum, which facilitators will be delivering.

Beginning in April, facilitators will deliver the core curriculum program to community based health professionals in Nova Scotia and P.E.I. The curriculum has 10 modules including, pain and symptom management, treatment and side effects. By April 2008, 1,100 health professionals will have a better knowledge in these areas as well as an improved understanding and appreciation of the expertise of their team members and the community resources available to patients and families. The curriculum will also be included in the undergraduate nursing program at St. Francis Xavier University.

As part of the project, Cancer Care Nova Scotia will support facilitators in developing a community of practice to build the body of knowledge and expertise in interprofessional learning through better interaction with one another.

An evaluation, led by Dalhousie Continuing Medical Education, for both facilitators and participants will cover both intended and self-reported changes in practice. Possible ways for evaluating the project from the patient perspective are also being discussed.

In addition to Cancer Care Nova Scotia, Partners for Interprofessional Cancer Education includes: district health authorities, the IWK Health Centre, the Registered Nurses Professional Development Centre, Dalhousie University Continuing Medical Education, Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy, Division of Continuing Pharmacy Education, the Union of Nova Scotia Indians, the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, St. Francis Xavier School of Nursing, Seniors' Secretariat and Prince Edward Island Department of Health.

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.