Outcomes of an innovative six-week standardized residential training course for physicians and nurses to provide primary palliative care in India.

Authors

null

Suresh Reddy

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bellaire, TX

Suresh Reddy, Nandini Vallath, Mona Gupta, Manoj Gujela, Sarath Mohan, Navami Naik, Sriram Yennu, Eduardo Bruera, M.R Rajagopal

Organizations

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bellaire, TX, Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences, Trivandrum, India, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, Indo-American Cancer Association, New Delhi, India, Indo-American Cancer Association, Atlanta, GA, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, Pallium India, Trivandrum, India

Research Funding

Other

Background: The National Program on Palliative Care (NPPC) by the Government of India has emphasized the need for training clinicians in providing palliative care (PC) with minimum of 6 weeks of residential training. However, there are limited studies on feasibility of such standardized training in PC offered to palliative care providers interested in transition to palliative care. Aim: To evaluate the feasibility, and change in the self-reported perception of knowledge in palliative care following a 6 weeks standardized residential training course (SRTC) for physicians and nurses to provide primary PC in India. Methods: A 6 week standardized residential type educational program which combined didactics, and bedside hands on palliative care training by PC specialists in five preselected centers in India. To be eligible licensed physicians and nurses should, (a) qualify in focused interview aimed to evaluate both interest and commitment to provide primary palliative care following the training, (b) Agree to complete all the required surveys. Results: 46/53 (86%) completed the pre and post surveys. 50/53 (94%) participants completed the course and passed the certification exam. Median age (IQR) was 31 (27, 41). 53% were female and 53% were physicians. Median reported knowledge (1-5) for pain, fatigue, delirium, medical ethics were 4,3,2,2.5 before training Vs 5 (P=0.001), 5 (P=0.001), 5 (P=0.001), 5 (P=0.001) after training respectively. All other core areas improved significantly. All participants noted satisfaction with faculty as high (5/5). Conclusions: Conducting a six weeks standardized residential training course in PC for physicians and nurses in India is feasible. There was a significant improvement in self-reported knowledge of all components of palliative care curriculum. Long term impact studies are needed.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2017 Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A

Track

Integration and Delivery of Palliative and Supportive Care,Communication and Shared Decision Making,Symptom Biology, Assessment, and Management,Models of Care

Sub Track

Models of Care

Citation

J Clin Oncol 35, 2017 (suppl 31S; abstract 160)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2017.35.31_suppl.160

Abstract #

160

Poster Bd #

H1

Abstract Disclosures

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