title: Dying With Carolyn: Using Simulation to Improve Communication Skills of Unregulated Care Providers Working in Long-Term Care.
abstract: This article examines the development, implementation, and evaluation of a pilot project utilizing high-fidelity simulation (HFS) to improve frontline staff members' confidence and skills to communicate about death and dying in long-term care homes. The target group was unregulated care providers who provide palliative care for residents and their families. Eighteen participants engaged in the educational intervention and evaluation. Results supported the effectiveness of HFS as an educational tool for unregulated health care providers. Quantitative data showed statistically significant improvements in participants' self-efficacy scores related to communicating about death and dying and end-of-life care. Qualitative data indicated that the experience was a valuable learning opportunity and helped participants develop insights into their own values, beliefs, and fears providing end-of-life care. HFS is therefore recommended as an innovative training strategy to improve palliative care communication in long-term care homes.
authors.affiliation: Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada kkortesm@lakeheadu.ca.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kortes-Miller
authors.affiliation: Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jones-Bonofiglio
authors.affiliation: Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hendrickson
authors.affiliation: Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Mary Lou
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D003643:Death; D004505:Education, Nonprofessional / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D000070856:High Fidelity Simulation Training; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D010166:Palliative Care; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D066107:Social Skills; D013727:Terminal Care
keywords: communication; death and dying; education; end of life; high-fidelity simulation; long-term care homes; palliative care; personal support workers; unregulated care providers