Mind the gap

Is the Canadian long-term care workforce ready for a palliative care mandate

Bibliographic Data

ID11201439
AuthorsPaulette V Hunter (0000-0003-1927-0433, University of Saskatchewan, corresponding author), Lloyd Mccleary (0000-0001-6431-762X, Brock University), Lynn McCleary, Noori Akhtar‐Danesh (0000-0002-3824-0881, McMaster University), Noori Akhtar-Danesh, Donna Goodridge (0000-0002-8680-8646, University of Saskatchewan), Thomas Hadjistavropoulos (0000-0002-8586-0450, University of Regina), Sharon Kaasalainen (0000-0003-2175-6037, McMaster University), Tamara Sussman (0000-0002-1226-6450, McGill University), Genevieve Thompson (0000-0003-2558-9926, University of Manitoba), Lorraine Venturato (0000-0001-9068-6170, University of Calgary), Abigail Wickson‐griffith (0000-0003-1290-5037, University of Regina), Abigail Wickson-Griffiths
Year2020
Volume40
Issue6
Pages1223-1243
Publication date2020-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAgeing and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0144-686X • E-ISSN: 1469-1779
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0144686x18001629
OpenAlexW2910700882
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited91

The average expected lifespan in Canadian long-term care (LTC) homes is now less than two years post-admission, making LTC a palliative care setting. As little is known about the readiness of LTC staff in Canada to embrace a palliative care mandate, the main objective of this study was to assess qualities relevant to palliative care, including personal emotional wellbeing, palliative care self-efficacy and person-centred practices ( e.g. knowing the person, comfort care). A convenience sample of 228 professional and non-professional staff ( e.g. nurses and nursing assistants) across four Canadian LTC homes participated in a survey. Burnout, secondary traumatic stress and poor job satisfaction were well below accepted thresholds, e.g. burnout: mean = 20.49 (standard deviation (SD) = 5.39) for professionals; mean = 22.09 (SD = 4.98) for non-professionals; cut score = 42. Furthermore, only 0–1 per cent of each group showed a score above cut-off for any of these variables. Reported self-efficacy was moderate, e.g. efficacy in delivery: mean = 18.63 (SD = 6.29) for professionals; mean = 15.33 (SD = 7.52) for non-professionals; maximum = 32. The same was true of self-reported person-centred care, e.g. knowing the person; mean = 22.05 (SD = 6.55) for professionals; mean = 22.91 (SD = 6.16) for non-professionals; maximum = 35. t -Tests showed that non-professional staff reported relatively higher levels of burnout, while professional staff reported greater job satisfaction and self-efficacy ( p p > 0.05). Overall, these results suggest that the emotional wellbeing of the Canadian LTC workforce is unlikely to impede effective palliative care. However, palliative care self-efficacy and person-centred care can be further cultivated in this context

Burnout · Emotional exhaustion · Family medicine · Mandate · Palliative care · Workforce · Clinical Psychology · Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes · Grief, Bereavement, and Mental Health · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues · Psychology

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