Abstract
Background/aims: Health and social care professionals (professionals) often highlight a lack of knowledge, skills and confidence toward supporting parents at end of life with cancer regarding their children, (<18). This project aimed to equip professionals on how best to support this population.
Methods: An evidence-based and theory-driven 2-hour face-to-face educational intervention was developed, which included a bereaved parent’s lived experience. The educational intervention was delivered interdisciplinary, at oncology settings (n=14), facilitated by two expert academic nurses for 347 professionals. Workshops were evaluated using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative surveys were completed immediately before and after the intervention by 274 professionals using a modified validated self-efficacy scale and single-item questions evaluating perceived usefulness and relevance. At ⩾ 3-months post-intervention, qualitative interviews explored if and how the intervention impacted professionals’ practice; analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Quantitative findings highlighted a statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy post-intervention (p<.001). Qualitative data highlighted professionals were more confident in taking an active role in initiating conversations with parents about their children. This included reassuring parents of the importance of telling the children about the poor prognosis, and advice and guidance on how best to do this. Key components of the intervention that positively shaped clinical practice included the bereaved parent’s lived experience, the communication framework and videos emulating good practice.
Conclusions: Professionals are ideally placed to support parents as they prepare children for the death of a parent. Evidence and theory-driven education can positively impact professionals’ provision of family-centred cancer care in practice. A more sustainable delivery model of this intervention is required for professionals on a national and international level.
Methods: An evidence-based and theory-driven 2-hour face-to-face educational intervention was developed, which included a bereaved parent’s lived experience. The educational intervention was delivered interdisciplinary, at oncology settings (n=14), facilitated by two expert academic nurses for 347 professionals. Workshops were evaluated using a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative surveys were completed immediately before and after the intervention by 274 professionals using a modified validated self-efficacy scale and single-item questions evaluating perceived usefulness and relevance. At ⩾ 3-months post-intervention, qualitative interviews explored if and how the intervention impacted professionals’ practice; analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.
Results: Quantitative findings highlighted a statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy post-intervention (p<.001). Qualitative data highlighted professionals were more confident in taking an active role in initiating conversations with parents about their children. This included reassuring parents of the importance of telling the children about the poor prognosis, and advice and guidance on how best to do this. Key components of the intervention that positively shaped clinical practice included the bereaved parent’s lived experience, the communication framework and videos emulating good practice.
Conclusions: Professionals are ideally placed to support parents as they prepare children for the death of a parent. Evidence and theory-driven education can positively impact professionals’ provision of family-centred cancer care in practice. A more sustainable delivery model of this intervention is required for professionals on a national and international level.
| Original language | English |
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| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 9 May 2024 |
| Event | The 13th World Research Congress of the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) - Spain, Barcelona, Spain Duration: 16 May 2024 → 18 May 2024 |
Conference
| Conference | The 13th World Research Congress of the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) |
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| Country/Territory | Spain |
| City | Barcelona |
| Period | 16/05/24 → 18/05/24 |
