title: Building capacity to provide palliative care in rural and remote communities: does education make a difference?
abstract: One strategy for improving access to palliative care services in rural and remote communities is to educate community-based health professionals in the knowledge and skills required to provide end-of-life care. It is, therefore, important to evaluate palliative care educational initiatives. This article provides an evaluation of the interdisciplinary education program at Lakehead University which aims to: improve the knowledge and skills of individual providers; contribute to the development of palliative care programs in rural communities; and develop palliative care trainers to educate their co-workers in the workplace. A survey of 353 providers who participated in the education program was completed after eight years of providing education. Results confirm that the goals of the education program were met, and that rural and remote communities reported a greater capacity to deliver palliative care. Nevertheless, respondents identified a lack of resources, especially home care visits, as an obstacle to improving care.
authors.affiliation: Northern Educational Centre for Aging and Health, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habjan
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aegard
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003479:Curriculum; D004496:Education, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D017145:Models, Educational; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009864:Ontario; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration