title: Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes in Caring for Older Adults With Advanced Illness Among Staff Members of Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Facilities: An Educational Needs Assessment.
abstract: In long-term care and assisted living facilities, many groups of health care professionals contribute to the work of the health care team. These staff members perform essential, direct patient care activities. An educational needs assessment was conducted to determine the learning needs and preferences of staff members related to providing care for patients with life-limiting illnesses. Staff members placed importance on understanding topics such as principles of palliative care, pain assessment, pain management, and nonpain symptom management. The majority of survey respondents were also interested in learning more about these topics. The results of this educational needs analysis suggest staff members would benefit from a course tailored to these identified educational needs and designed to overcome previously identified educational barriers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Nina M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Kashelle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lockman
authors.affiliation: University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, MD, USA mmcphers@rx.umaryland.edu.
authors.forename: Mary Lynn
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: McPherson
mesh_terms: D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D000068217:Social Workers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: assisted living; education; end-of-life care; learning needs; long-term care; nursing home; palliative care; training