title: Action learning: an effective way to improve cancer-related pain management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of action learning for improving cancer related pain management in the acute healthcare settings.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite the prevalent use of action learning in private, public, clinical and non-clinical settings, no studies were found in the literature that either examined cancer pain management or used action learning as an approach to improve patient care in acute healthcare settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  An intervention pre - posttest design was adopted using an action learning programme (ALPs) as the intervention. Healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes and practice were assessed and evaluated before and after the implementation of the six-month ALPs. A pre and post audit and survey were conducted for data collection. The data were collected from the entire population of 170 healthcare professionals in one healthcare organisation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The management of cancer related pain improved significantly following the intervention. Significant improvement were also seen in healthcare professionals' knowledge, attitudes with improved cancer related pain management as a consequence of this.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite many organisational challenges to practice development and collaborative working in healthcare settings there is evidence that action learning can achieve positive outcomes for improving CRP and supporting collaborative working.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Action learning needs to be considered as a strategy for achieving high quality standards.
authors.affiliation: Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mohammed Ali Mohammed
authors.initials: MAM
authors.lastname: Kasasbeh
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medicine, Furness College, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Payne
mesh_terms: D000072716:Cancer Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000592:standards*; D018794:Problem-Based Learning / Q000379:methods*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: action learning; cancer; interprofessional learning; interprofessional working; pain; surveys