title: Instruments used to measure the effectiveness of palliative care education initiatives at the undergraduate level: a critical literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increase in the numbers of patients with palliative care needs has resulted in growing pressures on the small number of specialist palliative care providers within the New Zealand context. These pressures can potentially be eased by ensuring an adequately trained workforce, beginning with undergraduate training in the healthcare field. The goal of the present review is to ascertain what tools exist to measure the effectiveness of undergraduate palliative care education initiatives.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of qualitative and quantitative literature was undertaken. Searches within ERIC, CINAHL Plus, Medline and Medline in Progress, and Google Scholar databases were conducted for the period 1990-2011. A checklist adapted from Hawker et al was used to select and assess data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  14 of the 112 articles met the inclusion criteria. Overall inconsistencies in the amount of validation information provided and a narrow focus on aspects of palliative care competence was apparent. No universally applicable validated questionnaire to assess the effectiveness of undergraduate palliative care education could be identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased focus by educational institutions on instilling palliative care skills in healthcare students necessitates the development of comprehensive and validated tools to evaluate the effectiveness of education initiatives.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rosemary Ann
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: Merryn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gott
authors.forename: Hayley
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neil
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D065126:Palliative Medicine / Q000193:education*
keywords: Education and training; Service evaluation; Supportive care; Terminal care