Learner Experiences Matter in Interprofessional Palliative Care Education: A Mixed Methods Study

José Pereira; Lynn Meadows; Dragan Kljujic; Tina Strudsholm; Henrique Parsons; Brady Riordan; Jonathan Faulkner; Kathryn Fisher

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.034

Learner Experiences Matter in Interprofessional Palliative Care Education: A Mixed Methods Study

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2022 May;63(5):698-710. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.034. Epub 2022 Jan 6.

Authors

José Pereira¹, Lynn Meadows², Dragan Kljujic³, Tina Strudsholm⁴, Henrique Parsons⁵, Brady Riordan⁶, Jonathan Faulkner⁶, Kathryn Fisher⁷

Affiliations

¹ Pallium (J.P., B.R., J.F.), Ontario, Canada; Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family Medicine (J.P.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) (J.P.), University of Navara, Pamplona, Spain. Electronic address: jpereira@mcmaster.ca.
² Department of Community Health Sciences (L.M.), Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
³ Database Manager and Analyst (D.K.), Independent Consultant, Brampton, Canada.
⁴ School of Health Sciences (T.S.), University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, Canada.
⁵ Division of Palliative Care (H.P.), Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa; The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Clinical Epidemiology Program; Bruyere Research Institute, Ontario, Canada.
⁶ Pallium (J.P., B.R., J.F.), Ontario, Canada.
⁷ School of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences (K.F.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.

PMID: 34998952
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.034

Abstract

Context: Interprofessional collaboration is needed in palliative care and many other areas in health care. Pallium Canada's two-day interprofessional Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative care Core courses aim to equip primary care providers from different professions with core palliative care skills.

Objectives: Explore the learning experience of learners from different professions who participated in Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative care Core courses from April 2015 to March 2017.

Methods: This mixed methods study was designed as a secondary analysis of existing data. Learners had completed a standardized course evaluation survey online immediately post-course. The survey explored the learning experience across several domains and consisted of seven closed ended (Likert Scales; 1 = "Total Disagree", 5 = "Totally Agree") and three open-ended questions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric test tests, and qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.

Results: During the study period, 244 courses were delivered; 3045 of 4636 participants responded (response rate 66%); physicians (662), nurses (1973), pharmacists (74), social workers (80), and other professions (256). Overall, a large majority of learners (96%) selected "Totally Agree" or "Agree" for the statement "the course was relevant to my practice". A significant difference was noted across profession groups; X² (4) = 138; p < 0.001. Post-hoc analysis found the differences to exist between physicians and pharmacists (X² = -4.75; p < 0.001), and physicians and social workers (X² = -6.63; p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between physicians and nurses (X² = 1.31; p = 1.00), and pharmacists and social workers (X² = -1.25; p = 1.00). Similar results were noted for five of the other statements.

Conclusion: Learners from across profession groups reported this interprofessional course highly across several learning experience parameters, including relevancy for their respective professions. Ongoing curriculum design is needed to fully accommodate the specific learning needs of some of the professions.

Keywords: Palliative; education; interprofessional; palliative approach; primary care.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Curriculum
Delivery of Health Care
Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing*
Humans
Learning
Palliative Care*