title: Development and evaluation of a palliative care curriculum for cystic fibrosis healthcare providers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary palliative care refers to basic skills that all healthcare providers can employ to improve quality of life for patients at any stage of disease. Training in these core skills is not commonly provided to clinicians caring for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The objective of this study was to assess change in comfort with core skills among care team members after participation in CF-specific palliative care training focused on management of burdensome symptoms and difficult conversations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative needs assessment was performed to inform the development of an 18-hour curriculum tailored to the chronicity and complexity of CF care. A 32-question pre- and post-course survey assessed CF provider comfort with the targeted palliative care skills in 5 domains using a 5-point Likert scale (1=very uncomfortable, 3=neutral, 5=very comfortable).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among course participants (n=16), mean overall comfort score increased by 0.9, from 3 (neutral) to 3.9 (comfortable) (p<0.001). Mean comfort level increased significantly (range 0.8 to 1.4) in each skill domain: use of supportive care resources, pain management, non-pain symptom management, communication, and psychosocial skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CF-specific palliative care training was well received by participants and significantly improved self-assessed comfort with core skills.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Rachel W
authors: RW
authors: Linnemann
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Patricia J
authors: PJ
authors: O'Malley
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Deborah
authors: D
authors: Friedman
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Anna M
authors: AM
authors: Georgiopoulos
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Buxton
authors: Department of Biostatistics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Lily L
authors: LL
authors: Altstein
authors: Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Leonard
authors: L
authors: Sicilian
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Allen
authors: A
authors: Lapey
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Gregory S
authors: GS
authors: Sawicki
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: smoskowitz@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors: Samuel M
authors: SM
authors: Moskowitz
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States
keywords: Cystic fibrosis; Education; End-of-life care; Palliative care