Ms Zhi Wen Ewee Yeo1, Matthew Flinders Prof Jennifer Tieman1,2, Matthew Flinders Prof Stacey George1,3, Dr Olivia Farrer1
1Flinders University, College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS), Adelaide, Australia, 2Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying (RePaDD), Adelaide, Australia, 3Adelaide Primary Health Network (PHN), Adelaide, Australia
Biography:
Dr Olivia Farrer is a research fellow with the Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying [RePaDD], and project lead for the End of Life Directions in Aged Care (ELDAC) Allied Health Toolkit project; which aims to enhance knowledge and capability in end of life care for older adults in aged care. Olivia is also an accredited practising dietitian and teaching program director at Flinders University, supporting self-regulating allied health professions in delivery of current and quality curriculum.
Abstract:
Objective:
Palliative and end of life care should be considered core business for aged care, and health care teams in these settings. With a growing ageing population, the primary care workforce faces growing demand to delivery palliative care. This study aimed to explore the experiences of allied health clinicians and tertiary educators working in, and teaching, palliative care with an ageing focus in Australia.
Methods:
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with clinicians experienced in aged and palliative care, and tertiary educators delivering aged and palliative care curriculum content from four allied health disciplines (dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech pathology). Guided by critical realism ontology and a constructivist epistemology, reflexive thematic analysis was used for data analysis.
Results:
Eleven participants were interviewed. Thematic analysis yielded 2 key themes, and 5 subthemes. The 2 key themes were: (i) Barriers to best practice (n=3 sub themes); and (ii) Enablers of palliative care best practice (n=2 subthemes). Key barriers were that curriculum content is lacking, and the medical model limiting the volume and quality of care delivered. Enablers to quality care were self-directed learning and clinical experience.
Conclusion:
Palliative and end-of-life care in aged care should foster reablement to support continuing agency and dignity through person-centred care. Allied health professionals are well-positioned to support this approach. However, facilitating allied health best practice will require attention to the reported barriers including clinician preparedness, and funding sufficient to meet demand and need.