Interactive education and training framework for WA health professionals in end-of-life and palliative care

An article written by Mrs Frances Arthur, Senior Project Officer – End-of-Life Care Program, WA Department of Health

Education and training in end-of-life and palliative care (EOL&PC) for health professionals is critical to support EOL&PC quality, access and early conversations about meaningful end-of-life choices.

The End-of-Life Care Program (EOLCP), WA Department of Health undertook a project to identify, develop and implement a framework to support health professionals’ access to EOL&PC education in a meaningful way. As a result of the project, the EOLCP and CareSearch has recently launched the interactive end-of-life and palliative care education and training for WA digital resource.

Why was the interactive framework developed?

A comprehensive review revealed that there is a significant number of WA health professional education and training resources available, however health professionals find it difficult to identify their specific needs and may have trouble accessing and navigating the variety of options. The interactive framework was developed to address the educational needs of individuals and professional groups by providing a tailored and connected learning pathway.

A collaboration with CareSearch led to a digital solution allowing direct navigation to access existing resources. The interactive framework supports an easy and efficient pathway for time-poor clinicians to address identified education and training learning gaps by connecting them to relevant resources. In this way, the interactive framework provides a time-efficient and outcome-focused approach to meeting the educational needs of health professionals.

CareSearch provides an agile environment that can be responsive to the changing workforce and professional development landscape.

How was the framework developed?

The EOLCP developed the EOL&PC Education and Training Framework (framework) following comprehensive analysis and consultation including:

• Conducting a comprehensive review of the EOL&PC education and training needs for health professionals in WA.
• Engaging a subject matter expert reference group to inform:
  • Literature review of educational needs of specialist and generalist palliative care providers, specialist palliative care support to generalist health professionals, and building capability across the health workforce.
  • Desktop audit of education and training available in WA Health Service Providers.
  • Survey of gaps, preferred approaches to education, and current programs and resources available.
• Drafting the framework to be a resource for all health professionals, staff and organisations that care for people with EOL&PC needs, including generalists and specialist palliative care.
• Piloting the framework at 40 sites with a variety of organisations and roles.
• Sharing the framework (eDocument) on the WA Department of Health website – End-of-Life and Palliative Care Education and Training Framework.
• Making ongoing enhancements to the framework to improve usability.
• Working with CareSearch to create an enhanced digital resource including an interactive personal learning matrix and learning plan to connect users with their identified education needs held within the CareSearch portal (a learning ‘checklist/mud map’).

The End-of-Life Care Program (EOLCP)

The EOLCP provides strategic state-wide direction on end-of-life and palliative care in Western Australia through the WA End-of-Life and Palliative Care Strategy 2018-2028 and its Implementation Plan One 2020-2022. Find out about other EOLCP initiatives on the End-of-Life Care Program website.

Author

Frances Arthur

Senior Project Officer, End-of-Life Care Program

WA Department of Health

Links that readers may find helpful:

WA’s-commitment-to-quality-and-culturally-respectful-end-of-life-and-palliative-care (caresearch.com.au)