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)
National Health & Medical Research Council
School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney
Dr Steven Trankle
School of Medicine, University of Western Sydney
Ms Margaret Nicholson, MNurs
Intensive Care Unit, Liverpool Hospital, NSW
Dr Hatem Alkhouri
Emergency Care Institute