Integrative Approaches in Palliative Care: Provider-Driven Online Continuing Education

Integrative approaches have been found to reduce suffering and improve quality of life in palliative carePCpopulationsand are increasingly in demand by patients and their familiesHoweverthere remains a lack of comprehensiveinterprofessionaleasily accessible continuing education continuing medical educationCE CMEon their evidence based use in PC contextsObjectiveThis FastTrack project will develop and evaluate the first comprehensive online CE CME program for multidisciplinary PC providers in the evidencebased application of integrative approaches in PCFeasibility was established in a preliminary study using prototype modules withPC providersHighly significant gains were seen in user knowledge and self efficacyalong with high ratings of relevance and valuePhase I AimsConduct focus groups to obtain provider input on optimal program content and indicators of program impactAnalyze focus group dataFormulate provider driven guidelines for program contentDevelop a new outcome measure to assess practitioner behavior change as a surrogate for improved patient outcomesPhase II AimsProduce nine program modules that address the evidence based application of integrative approaches for symptoms frequently seen in PC settingsConduct peer review of content to determine fidelity with current evidenceIncorporate program design criteria necessary for multidisciplinary CE CME approvalBuild a responsive website to deliver the online interactive program and evaluationAssess program outcomes in a randomized controlled trialAssess perceived content relevancesatisfactionand recommendations for updatingHypothesisAt follow up experimental subjects will have significantly greater improvements than controls inpractical confidence andfrequency of provider behaviors that promote integrative careImpactCE CME is a major vehicle for updating PC professionals about new evidence in the fieldHoweverthere is a lack of comprehensive and interprofessional CE CME content addressing evidence based integrative care in PC settingsBy educating multidisciplinary providers on evidence based integrative approachesthis program will have a potentially powerful impact on patientsandaposquality of life and comfort through improved non pharmacological symptom managementInnovationWe will use a provider driven approach to content and evaluationa new provider behavior assessment instrument to be developeddynamic updating and content tracking features that engage learnersand a learner dialog feature that builds a database of commentary for learners and the PIs for future updatesCommercial applicationThe program will be available to the PC workforce for discipline specific CE CME credit at their convenienceProductAn interactive online CE CME program with an accompanying outcome measure to assess practitioner behavior with or without the programPublic health benefitImproved quality of life for potentially millions of patients and families receiving PC services Project Narrative Integrative approaches have been found to reduce suffering and improve quality of life in palliative carePCpopulationsHoweverthere is a lack of comprehensive interprofessional continuing education offerings on the evidence based use of such approaches relative to the unique issues of efficacysafetyand treatment interactions in PC patientsThis FastTrack project will develop ahour interprofessional CE CME program for PC practitioners to advance the evidence based use of integrative approaches in PC settingsIt will also develop a new tool to assess change in relevant practitioner behaviors that promote integrative careboth as an outcome measure for the program and as a tool for wider use in the fieldA randomized controlled trial will assess program impact in a multidisciplinary sample ofpalliative care providers