Empowering the Health and Well-Being of the Palliative Care Workforce: Evaluation of a Weekly Self-Care Checklist

Abstract

Background Workplace interventions are needed to prevent burnout and support the well-being of the palliative care workforce. Intervention We implemented a 13-item self care checklist, included in a handbook on palliative care carried in the lab coat of all clinical personnel, to remind them to care for their own well-being. Measures We conducted a survey of all palliative care clinical staff to evaluate the usefulness and feasibility of checklist items and the checklist itself. We collected demographics, perceptions of professional satisfaction and burnout, and qualitative feedback aimed at improving the checklist. Outcomes Of 39 personnel contacted, 32 (82%) responded. Most (20; 62%) found the checklist useful. Exercise was the most highly ranked item, while Watching Visual Arts was the lowest ranked item. Conclusions and Lessons Learned: Numerous opportunities were identified to improve the checklist and facilitate achievement of checklist items. Survey data will be used in the next checklist version.

Moving and Handling Children After Death: An Inductive Thematic Analysis of the Factors That Influence Decision Making by Children's Hospice Staff

“…The emotional impact of working in children's hospices, and children's palliative care more widely, is well documented. 23 Similar findings have been reported by practitioners working in critical and complex care, both in the United Kingdom 24 and internationally. 25,26 The findings that relate to family-centered care have been published separately.…”

“…A number of sources of stress were identified by practitioners, particularly the deterioration of the body and the need to be able to provide emotional and bereavement support to families immediately after the death of their child. The emotional impact of working in children's hospices, and children's palliative care more widely, is well documented 23 . Similar findings have been reported by practitioners working in critical and complex care, both in the United Kingdom 24 and internationally 25,26 .…”

Dying Alone during a Pandemic

“…Various strategies have been proposed to improve clinician well-being and self-care. 26 Participation by our palliative care interdisciplinary team members in the debrief meetings is strongly encouraged to promote self-care and prevent burnout. Themes of distress, frustration, and helplessness are often shared.…”

Contribution of Synthetic Data Generation towards an Improved Patient Stratification in Palliative Care

“…A starting point for important screening features can be obtained from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), which has proposed consensus criteria for screening of patients care needs and subsequent referral to specialized PC: (i) uncontrolled symptoms, (ii) moderate to severe distress related to cancer diagnosis and therapy, serious comorbid physical, psychiatric, and psychosocial conditions, (iii) life expectancy of six months or less, (iv) patient or family concerns about the disease course and decision-making, and/or (v) a specific request for palliative care by the patient or family [ 9 ]. Such a systematic screening can be carried out by using checklists [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. These included different unspecified criteria like frequent hospital admission or hospital stays due to difficult-to-control symptoms, complex nursing care, or vast deterioration.…”