A collaborative learning process to improve palliative care
Anna Sandgren, Ulrika Östlund, Tove Bylund Grenklo, Helen Gustafson, Jenny-Ann Johansson, Carina Persson, Maria Petri, Helene Reimertz, Karin Svensson, Birgitta Wallerstedt, Carina Werkander Harstäde, Eva Benzein The Center for Collaborative Palliative Care, Linnaeus University, Sweden
The Center for Collaborative Palliative Care is collaboration between the Linneaus University, Region Kronoberg and the eight municipalities of Kronoberg County, Sweden. The Center has three major working areas; education, clinical improvement and research. The main goal for the clinical improvement was to conduct an education in palliative care for professionals and to integrate the new knowledge into clinical practice simultaneously.
The educational design
The educational form and structure was designed in collaboration with patients, family members, managers and personnel from different care settings. Interprofessional educational group sessions of 8-10 persons, met 2-3 hours, 6-7 times during one year. Initially, group sessions were led by colleagues from the Center. Then coaching support was provided to potential session leaders from the clinical area in order to build a sustainable structure for increasing professional competence in palliative care.
An education material, including six themes, was developed based on the National Clinical Practice Guidelines for Palliative Care and relevant literature: » a palliative approach » care with dignity » symptom management » the existence and dying » family members » collaborative care Each theme included short texts, questions for reflections, and suggestions for further studying and clinical improvement.
Evaluation
Approximately 100 professionals from eight different care settings in hospital care and community care have participated in the education during 2014. Evaluations showed great satisfaction and several quality improvement projects have been proposed by the professionals. Some statements about the education: » offers a forum for all professionals to discuss and work towards a goal » gives time to reflect » highlights the existential questions » an open atmosphere which facilitates discussions and reflections » inspiration and ideas to clinical improvements » a desire that their knowledge should be appreciated and used at their workplace » having the sessions during half a year to maintain the continuity in the discussions Center for Collaborative Palliative Care
Conclusion
To conduct this education to a large number of professionals is challenging and requires long-term planning and a continually dialog among all collaboration partners. Due to the evaluation with both participants and managers, the decision was taken to modify the educational design: i.e. 5 group sessions including 5 themes conducted during 6 months. Approximately 200 personnel from different care settings will be engaged in the education during 2015.
Contact Anna Sandgren E-mail:
[email protected] Phone: +46 70 313 12 36 Funding The Kamprad Family Foundation
