South Western Sydney Clinical School

This online survey of nurses and doctors dealing with elderley people approaching the end of their lives has the following objectives:
•  To assess the level of exposure to and confidence in initiating end-of-life conversations
• To identify barriers for initiating the sensitive end-of-life conversation
• To identify factors influencing the level of confidence in facing end-of-life discussions
• To propose strategies for addressing these barriers in line with the training needs and wants of the target group

The survey  is  a unique opportunity for acute care and emergency nurses and doctors  who deal with end of life issues on a regular basis to share their views and experiences on communicating bad news.

Findings will be used to identify barriers to initiating end-of-life discussions with patients and their families;  and to design educational strategies for doctors and nurses diagnosing or treating dying patients.

This research also asks about doctors and nurses' opinions on the potential for using a screening tool to determine what patients are at higher risk of in-hospital or short-term death after discharge.

 This project has been endorsed by the University of NSW Human Research Ethics Advisory Panel G (Medical & Community).

 ===> Manuscript completed and submitted for publication to BMC Palliative Care (2016)