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Evaluation of an interdisciplinary palliative care inhouse training for professionals in gynecological oncology

  • Gynecologic Oncology
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a pilot interdisciplinary inhouse training in palliative care (PC) for gynecological oncologists.

Methods

Competencies of participants from a gynecological university department were evaluated taking part in an interdisciplinary PC course in a pre and post design. The multiprofessional course covered basic principles of PC, symptom management and communication taught by PC specialists. Competencies were evaluated using self-designed questionnaires before (ISPG-1), right after (ISPG-2), and 6 months after the training (ISPG-3) (inhouse seminar palliative care in gynecology: ISPG).

Results

31 persons from the department of gynecology took part in the course, of which 27 answered the first questionnaire (seven nurses (26%), 19 doctors (71%), one profession not indicated (3%), median working experience in gynecological oncology: 5 years). Return rates were: ISPG-1 27/31 (87.1%), ISPG-2 20/31 (64.5%) and IPSG-3 14/31 (45.2%). A more positive attitude towards PC could be observed in the majority of participants after the course (ISPG-2 62%, ISPG-3 71%). They felt more competent in the care of palliative patients (46%). PC would be initiated earlier and the interaction with other disciplines was improved (ISPG-2 85%, ISPG-3 100%). The participants assessed a significant improvement of their skills in all palliative fields which were analyzed.

Conclusion

PC inhouse training improves the understanding of PC and the interdisciplinary approach in the management of patients with advanced disease. It is a feasible and useful instrument to improve the competencies in generalist PC of specialists in gynecological oncology.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Michelle Etheridge, M.A. Interpreting and Translating, for professional language editing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Munich-Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Thomas Kolben, Tom Degenhardt, Maximiliane Burgmann, Alexander Koenig, Theresa Maria Kolben, Kristina Ulbach, Sven Mahner, Nadia Harbeck & Rachel Wuerstlein

  2. Department for Palliative Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany

    Birgit Haberland & Claudia Bausewein

Authors
  1. Thomas Kolben
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  2. Birgit Haberland
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  3. Tom Degenhardt
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  4. Maximiliane Burgmann
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  5. Alexander Koenig
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  6. Theresa Maria Kolben
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  7. Kristina Ulbach
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  8. Sven Mahner
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  10. Nadia Harbeck
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  11. Rachel Wuerstlein
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Contributions

TK: data collection, manuscript writing/editing. BH: project development, data collection. TD: manuscript writing, data analysis. MB: manuscript editing. AK: data collection. TMK: data collection, manuscript editing. KU: project development, data collection, data analysis. SM: manuscript editing. CB: project development, data collection, manuscript writing and editing. NH: project development, data collection, manuscript writing and editing. RW: project development, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing and editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Kolben.

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Conflict of interest

S. Mahner has received research support, advisory board fees, honoraria, and travel support from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Jenapharm, GSK, JanssenCilag, Medac, MSD, Pharmamar, Roche, Tesaro, and Teva. All other authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Kolben, T., Haberland, B., Degenhardt, T. et al. Evaluation of an interdisciplinary palliative care inhouse training for professionals in gynecological oncology. Arch Gynecol Obstet 297, 767–773 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4681-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-018-4681-0

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