Experiential learning to increase palliative care competence among the Indigenous workforce: an Australian experience.
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Date
2019-07-24
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Affiliation(s)
(Shahid, Holloway, Thompson) WA Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, Geraldton and Perth, WA, Australia
(Shahid) Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
(Ekberg) School of Psychology and Counselling, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
(Jacka, Yates) School of Nursing and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
(Garvey) Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Brisbane, Australia
(Shahid) Centre for Aboriginal Studies, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6845, Australia
(Ekberg) School of Psychology and Counselling, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
(Jacka, Yates) School of Nursing and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
(Garvey) Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Brisbane, Australia
Year
2019
Citation
BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care. Vol.9(2), 2019, pp. 158-163).
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BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care
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The authors acknowledge the ongoing support of the Lowitja Institute, Australia’s National Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Research.
Abstract
Objectives Improving Indigenous people's access to palliative care requires a health workforce with appropriate knowledge and skills to respond to end-of-life (EOL) issues. The Indigenous component of the Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) includes opportunities for Indigenous health practitioners to develop skills in the palliative approach by undertaking a supervised clinical placement of up to 5 days within specialist palliative care services. This paper presents the evaluative findings of the components of an experiential learning programme and considers the broader implications for delivery of successful palliative care education programme for Indigenous people. Methods Semistructured interviews were conducted with PEPA staff and Indigenous PEPA participants. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and key themes identified. Results Participants reported that placements increased their confidence about engaging in conversations about EOL care and facilitated relationships and ongoing work collaboration with palliative care services. Management support was critical and placements undertaken in settings which had more experience caring for Indigenous people were preferred. Better engagement occurred where the programme included Indigenous staffing and leadership and where preplacement and postplacement preparation and mentoring were provided. Opportunities for programme improvement included building on existing postplacement and follow-up activities. Conclusions A culturally respectful experiential learning education programme has the potential to upskill Indigenous health practitioners in EOL care. Copyright © 2019 Author(s).
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Article
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Qualitative study
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Palliative Care