Improving End-of-Life Communications Using Technology-Assisted Continuing Education With Interprofessional Teams

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Interprofessional Communication
• Palliative Care

Background:

• Registered nurses and social workers often lack experience in conducting end-of-life discussions.
• Effective communication is crucial for quality palliative and end-of-life care.
• Existing training methods may not adequately prepare healthcare professionals for these sensitive conversations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of technology-assisted continuing education (TACE) on the capability and comfort of healthcare professionals in end-of-life communication.
• To assess the effectiveness of a novel TACE methodology in an interprofessional context.
• To provide a foundation for future research on technology-enhanced healthcare training.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study was conducted across two sites involving registered nurses and social workers.
• Participants engaged in a technology-assisted continuing education (TACE) program focused on end-of-life communication.
• Pre- and post-intervention assessments measured changes in participants' self-reported comfort and capability levels.

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated significant increases in both comfort and capability scores related to end-of-life communication following the TACE intervention.
• The TACE methodology proved feasible and effective in a dual-site, interprofessional setting.
• This study represents the first exploration of this specific TACE approach for end-of-life communication training.

Conclusions:

• Technology-assisted continuing education (TACE) is an effective method for enhancing healthcare professionals' skills and confidence in end-of-life discussions.
• The findings support the broader application of TACE for improving interprofessional communication in sensitive healthcare areas.
• Further research is warranted to validate these findings in larger, diverse populations and settings.