Training Intervention for Health Care Staff in the Provision of Existential Support to Patients With Cancer: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Abstract

Context: When a patient receives a cancer diagnosis, existential issues become more compelling.Throughout the illness trajectory, cancer patients could be cared for on oncology wards, by home care teams or in hospices. Nurses working with these patients are sometimes aware of the patients' existential needs but do not feel confident when discussing these issues.Objectives: To determine the effects of a training intervention, where the focus is on existential issues and nurses' perceived confidence in communication and their attitude towards caring for dying patients.Methods: This was a randomised, controlled trial with a training intervention consisting of theoretical training in existential issues combined with individual and group reflection. In total, 102 nurses on oncology wards and hospice wards and in palliative home care teams were randomised to a training group or non-training group. Primary outcomes, confidence in communication and attitude towards the care of dying patients were measured at baseline, immediately after the training and five to six months after.Results: Confidence in communication improved significantly in the training group from baselinebefore the training -to both the first and second follow-up, i.e. immediately after the training and five months after. The attitude towards caring for the dying did not improve in the training group.Conclusion: This study shows that short-term training with reflection improves the confidence of healthcare staff when communicating, which is important for healthcare managers with limited resources. Further studies are needed to explore how patients experience the communication skills of healthcare staff after such training.

Palliative care consultation team on acute wards—an intervention study with pre-post comparisons

“…Another study [38] used theoretical training in existential issues combined with group reflection to achieve greater understanding and communicative confidence when caring for patients dying of cancer. That study showed a significant increase in the training group, even after 6 months, compared to the non-training group.…”

Desire for hastened death: how do professionals in specialized palliative care react?

“…In order to be able to face DHD without fear, and reduce avoiding talking about DHD, personal development and confidence are very important for SPC‐HPs . Training including (self‐)reflection is seen as effective to raise confidence in communicating about existential concerns like DHD . Courses may adapt recommendations for counseling psychologists and include basics in suicide risk assessment as well as practical modules .…”

Childhood Maltreatment and PTSD: Spiritual Well-Being and Intimate Partner Violence as Mediators

“…It emphasizes people’s freedom in making life choices and helps them work toward their values and derive meaning for personal growth (Tan & Wong, 2012). Empirical evidence has shown promise with this approach (Henoch, Danielson, Strang, Browall, & Melin-Johansson, 2013). With evidence from this study, it would be helpful to examine the efficacy and effectiveness of integrating this humanistic-existential framework with more standard cognitive-behavioral interventions in a population of African Americans impacted by multiple forms of trauma.…”