Nursing education on palliative care across Europe: Results and recommendations from the EAPC Taskforce on preparation for practice in palliative care nursing across the EU based on an online-survey and country reports

Pereira, Sandra Martins; Hernández-Marrero, Pablo; Pasman, H. Roeline W.; Capelas, Manuel Luís; Larkin, Philip; Francké, Anneke L.

doi:10.1177/0269216320956817

Cited by 46 publications

(45 citation statements)

References 50 publications

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“…Most countries of the globe lack palliative care doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and trainees to meet their needs ( 27 , 28 ). Undergraduate doctors and nurses receive scant training in palliative care, leaving them lacking in confidence and skills in symptom management, communication and care ( 29 , 30 ). Undergraduate and postgraduate training from expert palliative care clinicians is urgent, as well as developing an adequate palliative care workforce to support services and patients day to day, especially as COVID-19 surges continue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Challenges of Caring for People Dying From COVID-19: A Multinational, Observational Study (CovPall)

Oluyase

Hocaoglu

Cripps

et al. 2021

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

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Context Systematic data on the care of people dying with COVID-19 are scarce. Objectives To understand the response of and challenges faced by palliative care services during the COVID-19 pandemic, and identify associated factors. Methods We surveyed palliative care and hospice services, contacted via relevant organisations. Multivariable logistic regression identified associations with challenges. Content analysis explored free text responses. Results 458 services responded; 277 UK, 85 rest of Europe, 95 rest of the world; 81% cared for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, 77% had staff with suspected or confirmed COVID-19; 48% reported shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 40% staff shortages, 24% medicines shortages, 14% shortages of other equipment. Services provided direct care and education in symptom management and communication; 91% changed how they worked. Care often shifted to increased community and hospital care, with fewer admissions to inpatient palliative care units. Factors associated with increased odds of PPE shortages were: charity rather than public management (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.81-5.20), inpatient palliative care unit rather than other settings (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.46-3.75). Being outside the UK was associated with lower odds of staff shortages (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.76). Staff described increased workload, concerns for their colleagues who were ill, whilst expending time struggling to get essential equipment and medicines, perceiving they were not a front-line service. Conclusion Palliative care services were often overwhelmed, yet felt ignored in the COVID-19 response. Palliative care needs better integration with health care systems when planning and responding to future epidemics/pandemics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Challenges of Caring for People Dying From COVID-19: A Multinational, Observational Study (CovPall)

Oluyase

Hocaoglu

Cripps

et al. 2021

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

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“…This raises the need for new multi-professional approaches for both education and practice that will secure smooth pathways for responding to the acute care needs of patients. Furthermore, the expertise of physicians, RNs and other healthcare professionals who work in acute care or specialized level care will be needed more in consultative and educational support for those working at the general level of palliative care [ 3 , 10 , 16 , 17 , 19 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Worldwide, there is, however, neither any harmony of the training needed for palliative care nor the establishment of specialty or subspecialty palliative care medicine [ 1 ]. Furthermore, disparities in palliative education have been found across and between regions of Europe in undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programs [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Future palliative competence needs – a qualitative study of physicians’ and registered nurses’ views

et al. 2021

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Background Globally, the need for palliative care will increase as a result of the ageing of populations and the rising burden of cancer, non-communicable diseases as well as some communicable diseases. Physicians and registered nurses working in palliative care should have a sufficient level of education and competence in managing the changing needs and requirements of palliative care. There is, however, need for evidence-based palliative care training and education of physicians and registered nurses. The purpose of this study was to describe the views of physicians and registered nurses regarding future competence needs within palliative care. Methods The study was conducted through use of a cross-sectional qualitative design. A total of 54 physicians and 110 registered nurses completed an open-ended questionnaire about the future competence needs of palliative care. The data were analyzed using inductive content analysis. Results The results revealed four main competence needs within palliative care for the coming decade: palliative care competence at all levels within healthcare and social welfare services; individualized palliative care competence; person-centered encounters competence; and systematic competence development within palliative care. Conclusions The results offer cues for education and professional development, which can be used to support physicians and registered nurses when future palliative care competences are included in educational programs. Seamless cooperation between palliative care services and educational institutions is recommended to ensure that undergraduate and postgraduate education is based on a continuous assessment of competence requirements within the field of palliative care. Therefore, online multi-professional simulations, for example, could be used to enhance future competencies within palliative care; undergraduate medical, nursing and allied healthcare students as well as postgraduate palliative care professionals and experts of experience could work together during simulations.

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“…25,26 Undergraduate doctors and nurses receive scant training in palliative care, leaving them lacking in confidence and skills in symptom management, communication and care, and resulting in stress following complex encounters. 27,28 Undergraduate and postgraduate training from expert palliative care clinicians is urgent, as well as developing an adequate palliative care workforce to support services and patients day to day, especially as COVID-19 cases increase.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The challenges of caring for people dying from COVID-19: a multinational, observational study of palliative and hospice services (CovPall)

Oluyase

Hocaoglu

Cripps

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: Systematic data on the care of people dying with COVID-19 are scarce. We studied the response of and challenges for palliative care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We surveyed palliative care and hospice services, contacted via relevant organisations. Multivariable logistic regression identified associations with key challenges. Content analysis explored free text. Findings: 458 services responded; 277 UK, 85 rest of Europe, 95 rest of the world (1 country unreported); 81% cared for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, 77% had staff with suspected or confirmed COVID-19; 48% reported shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), 40% staff shortages, 24% medicines shortages, 14% shortages of other equipment. Services provided direct care and education in symptom management and communication; 91% changed how they worked. Care often shifted to increased community and hospital care, with fewer admissions to inpatient palliative care units. Factors associated with increased odds of PPE shortages were: charity rather than public management (OR 3.07, 95% CI 1.81-5.20),inpatient palliative care unit rather than other setting (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.46-3.75). Being outside the UK was associated with lower odds of staff shortages (OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.76). Staff described increased workload, concerns for their colleagues who were ill, whilst expending time struggling to get essential equipment and medicines, perceiving they were not a front-line service. Interpretation: Across all settings palliative care services were often overwhelmed, yet felt ignored in the COVID-19 response. Palliative care needs better integration with health care systems when planning and responding to future epidemics/pandemics. Funding: MRC grant number MR/V012908/1, Cicely Saunders International and NIHR ARC South London.

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Nursing education on palliative care across Europe: Results and recommendations from the EAPC Taskforce on preparation for practice in palliative care nursing across the EU based on an online-survey and country reports

Cited by 46 publications

References 50 publications

The Challenges of Caring for People Dying From COVID-19: A Multinational, Observational Study (CovPall)

The Challenges of Caring for People Dying From COVID-19: A Multinational, Observational Study (CovPall)

Future palliative competence needs – a qualitative study of physicians’ and registered nurses’ views

The challenges of caring for people dying from COVID-19: a multinational, observational study of palliative and hospice services (CovPall)

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