Advancing Trauma-Informed Care Education for Hospice and Palliative Staff: Development and Evaluation of Educational...

Nurses play an essential role in managing mental health conditions, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially in rural areas where access to mental health care is limited. Posttraumatic stress disorder may emerge at the end of life and complicate health care and is a particular concern for aging Vietnam veterans. We describe the development of 3 videos that illustrate how to recognize PTSD, respond to trauma disclosures, and manage PTSD in cognitive impairment during an in-home hospice nurse visit. Through problem identification and needs assessment, we identified 6 goals and 28 specific content objectives presented through cinematic action with flashbacks or voice-over narration with graphics. Videos were evaluated through a survey (N = 155) and analysis of "chat" responses (N = 186) to targeted questions during a webinar presentation to clinicians (N = 345). Approximately 75% rated videos as "very much" relevant to needs, having helped learn something new, and realistic. Analysis of chat responses showed videos conveyed most content objectives (92%). In addition, participants stated videos were helpful in demonstrating nursing skills of listening, responding, and displaying empathy, as well as showing case presentations involving cognitive impairment and the patient experience. Participants expressed a desire for longer videos/more information including a wider range of PTSD presentations and comorbidities.