Evaluating a self-directed palliative care learning package for rural aged care workers: a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Palliative Care Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Aged care workers require specialized knowledge and confidence in palliative care.
• Rural settings present unique challenges for accessing continuous professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a self-directed learning package on palliative care knowledge and confidence.
• To evaluate the long-term retention of these gains among aged care professionals in rural New South Wales.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of aged care workers participated in a self-directed palliative care learning module.
• Knowledge and confidence were measured using pre- and post-intervention questionnaires.
• A 6-month follow-up assessment was conducted, with data analyzed using paired t-tests.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in both knowledge and confidence was observed post-intervention.
• Improvements in knowledge were retained at the 6-month follow-up.
• Confidence gains, however, were not sustained over the 6-month period.

Conclusions:

• Self-directed learning packages are effective in enhancing palliative care knowledge and confidence for rural aged care workers.
• Further research is needed to explore the role of ongoing support, education, and mentoring in sustaining these improvements.
• The findings underscore the value of accessible, flexible learning solutions for specialized healthcare training.