title: Palliative care education in neonatal units: impact on knowledge and attitudes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To facilitate improved and earlier access to palliative care for babies, a 4-h workshop on the principles, practice and resources in palliative care was delivered in 21 neonatal units across London. This paper assesses the impact of these workshops.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of mixed methods, processual evaluation of a series of education workshops, a pre and post survey instrument was developed, consisting of open and closed questions assessing knowledge of services and attitudes towards palliative care. Before and after each workshop attendees were invited to complete the survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neonatal units in hospitals across London, including examples of intensive care, high dependency and special care units.
  
  
  RESULTS
  331 healthcare professionals attended the sessions, and 264 (80%) completed questionnaires. The majority of attendees were experienced neonatal nurses working in neonatal intensive care  (61% more than 7 years) but with limited experience of palliative care services. Over 79% of respondents reported that the workshop completely met their learning needs. Post-session 80% of respondents felt confident referring to palliative care services, compared with 46% before (p<0.001). Analysis of open and closed text responses revealed a shift in attitude after the sessions from a focus on dying/end-of-life, towards integrating palliative care as part of a holistic treatment plan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short (half day), locally delivered workshop can change attitudes and increase knowledge in neonatal staff. Such a workshop can serve as a first step in facilitating access to and utilisation of a variety of palliative care services.
authors.affiliation: Louis Dundas Centre for Children's Palliative Care, UCL Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Twamley
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moss
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Finella
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Craig
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Reen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polonsky
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bluebond-Langner
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004493:Education / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D065126:Palliative Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Education evaluation; Neonatal Intensive care; Neonate; Perinatal Palliative Care