Communicating with family caregivers of nursing home residents: Challenges and training needs experienced by healthcare professionals
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Silvia Gonella, RN, MScN, PhD - Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Torino, Italy. Email: silvia.gonella@unito.it; Alexandra Antal, RN - Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy.; Nicola Cornally, RGN, MSc, PhD - Catherine McAuley School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork, Brookfield Health Sciences Complex College Road Cork, T12 AK54, Cork, Ireland.; Peter Martin, MB BCh BAO MMed FAChPM - School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia.; Valerio Dimonte, RN, MScN - Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy; Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Corso Bramante 88-90, 10126 Torino, Italy.; Paola Di Giulio RN, MScN - Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, via Santena 5 bis, 10126 Torino, Italy.
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- University of Torino, Torino, Italy
Background: End-of-life conversations are some of the most challenging of all communication contexts and are also challenging for experienced healthcare professionals (HCPs). These conversations occur in a variety of healthcare settings including nursing homes (NH). Literature supports collaborative models in which end-of-life communication requires a team, is ongoing, and starts early in the disease trajectory rather than being limited to a single delayed episode led by only one HCP. This study explores challenges experienced by different HCPs both initiating and sustaining end-of-life communication with family caregivers (FCs) of NH residents and therefore what training might need to be prioritised.
Methods: Descriptive qualitative study with inductive thematic analysis. Semi-structured in-depth interviews involved 21 HCPs (four NH managers, four chief nurses, three chief medical officers, three nurses, three psychologists, two educators, one chief nurse’s aides, and one nurse aide) across 6 North-west Italian NHs.
Results: Twenty-two categories were gathered into four themes: 1) Communicating with FCs over the overall disease trajectory; 2) Managing challenging emotions and situations; 3) Establishing a partnership between HCPs and FCs; and 4) Addressing HCPs’ communication skills and training needs.
Conclusion: HCPs encounter several challenges while communicating with FCs of NH residents, from admission to bereavement. The quality of communication, HCPs’ attitudes and professionalism, and the creation of a partnership based on trust influence FCs’ satisfaction with care. Skill communication training programmes open to all HCPs, delivered in small groups, based on clinical cases discussions and reflection sessions, and with follow-up meetings were perceived as the most useful and impacted FCs’ psychological well-being.
The authors have written an article based on this topic. The citation is:
Gonella S, Di Giulio P, Antal A, Cornally N, Martin P, Campagna S, Dimonte V. Challenges Experienced by Italian Nursing Home Staff in End-of-Life Conversations with Family Caregivers during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Qualitative Descriptive Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022;19(5):2504. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19052504.
| Type | Presentation |
| Acquisition | Self-submission |
| Review Type | Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host |
| Format | Text-based Document |
| Evidence Level | Other |
| Research Approach | Qualitative Research |
| Keywords | Communication; End of Life; Healthcare Professionals; Nursing Homes; Communication Training Needs; Qualitative Research |
| Name | STTI (Sigma) 6th Biennial European Conference |
| Host | European Region - Sigma |
| Location | Dublin, Ireland |
| Date | 2022 |
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