1. Objectifs

Intentions :
This article presents the perceived impacts of an interprofessional training program that was developed to enhance abilities that facilitate Goals of care conversations (GOCC) at the end-of-life among health professionals in health and social services institutions in Quebec. The perceived effects of this program on patients and their families are discussed.

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sampling frame for this study consisted of health care professionals from three hospitals from the CHU [centre hospitalier universitaire] de Quebec-Universite Laval, one hospice and a palliative home care program from the CIUSSS [centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux] de la Capitale-Nationale who participated in the training. […] To meet the inclusion criteria, participants (physicians (n = 4), nurses (n = 8), social workers (n = 8) and spiritual care workers (n = 4) had to take part regularly in discussions with their colleagues, as well as patients and their families, concerning treatment preferences in the course of their practice.» (p. 301) Most participants are women (73%).

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«The participants’ comments indicate that the training had three main effects: (1) better use of the new unified form to document care objectives; (2) improved practices of collaborative leadership and expertise; and (3) reaffirmed roles of advocacy, support and enabler with patients and families in GOCC context.» (p. 302-303) In regards to the third effect, «one participant said that the training made her aware of the role she could play with families in relation to the decision-making process concerning GOCC, which took concrete form in the information she gave families. Another participant explained that the training had made her aware of the importance of her role in informing patients and their families, and specifically of adjusting her communication so they could understand better. The ability to play this role depends on the trust built up with families and on her familiarity with them.» (p. 307) Indeed, «[r]egarding facilitators, the common elements in the interviews concerned participants’ intent to improve the services they give patients and their families. In fact, the participants said that what had helped them improve their communication with patients was taking more time to talk about care objectives because they considered that they were more aware of the effects of this decision on the lives of patients and their families.» (p. 310)