Evaluation of a Virtual Learning Collaborative to Integrate Palliative Care Into Routine Oncology Practice

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Integrating palliative care into oncology is crucial but faces implementation challenges.
• Virtual learning collaboratives (VLCs) offer a potential solution for disseminating best practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and participant experience of a virtual learning collaborative (VLC) designed to integrate palliative care into oncology practices.

Main Methods:

• A 2-phase virtual learning collaborative (VLC) involving 24 oncology practices.
• Data collection through quantitative surveys and semistructured interviews.
• Evaluation focused on participant reactions and feedback for program improvement.

Main Results:

• Participant feedback indicated value in the VLC experience (79%) and virtual delivery (74%).
• Quality improvement coaches and palliative care experts were perceived as helpful.
• Key barriers to participation included time constraints, personnel changes, and lack of team engagement.

Conclusions:

• VLCs are a viable mechanism for disseminating palliative care integration knowledge in oncology.
• Future VLCs should focus on optimizing structure, engagement, and content based on identified themes.
• Further research is needed to understand factors promoting VLC acceptance in healthcare settings.