EVALUATION OF AN INTERDISCIPLINARY TRAINING-PROGRAM IN PALLIATIVE CARE - ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF RURAL AND NORTHERN COMMUNITIES

Our study was a pilot test of an interdisciplinary training program in palliative care to improve the quality of care to terminally ill canc er and AIDS patients in rural and northern communities in Manitoba. Th e program involved two weeks of intense palliative care training for n urses, social workers, physicians, and volunteers. Four teams were tra ined during a six-month period. A repeated measures design was used to assess the effectiveness of the program. Results indicated that healt h professionals' knowledge about care of the dying, care of individual s with HIV/AIDS, and attitudes toward care of the dying improved upon completion of the training program and remained improved three months following the program. Improvements in use of medications, increased a ttention to family care, increased discussion of DNR orders, and incre ased consultation related to symptom management were evident following the training program. The parallel training program for volunteers wa s also judged to be effective.