Evaluating a palliative care education project in nursing homes

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Nursing homes provide care for dying residents.
• Improving palliative care in nursing homes is a priority.
• Nursing home staff require specialized education to enhance end-of-life care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a 2-year palliative care education project for nursing home staff.
• To assess the impact of the education on resident care, staff practice, and organizational change.
• To determine the effectiveness of education as a catalyst for organizational change in nursing homes.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was used, combining case studies and postal surveys.
• Case studies involved participant observation and interviews with staff in four nursing homes.
• Postal surveys compared participating and non-participating nursing homes in the same region.

Main Results:

• The palliative care education project positively influenced participants' practice and resident care.
• The impact varied across different staff groups within the nursing homes.
• Widespread organizational changes in nursing homes were not achieved solely through the education provided.

Conclusions:

• While the education enhanced individual practice, it was insufficient for broad organizational transformation.
• The study raises questions about the efficacy of education as the sole driver of organizational change in healthcare settings.
• Further strategies are needed to embed palliative care principles into nursing home organizational practices.