Implementing an Educational Module on Integrative Therapies Used Among Palliative Care Patients

Purpose. To evaluate the influence of an educational module about integrative therapies used in palliative care on knowledge among palliative care patients and its feasibility as a tool to provide patient education at the University of Arizona Telehealth Learning Center (TLC). Background. Palliative care is an interdisciplinary medical approach that aims to provide supportive care for chronically or critically ill individuals. Integrative palliative care helps improve the delivery of palliative care by incorporating integrative therapies in the palliative care setting. However, 80% of palliative care patients reported a lack of knowledge of integrative therapies. This project aimed to address the lack of patient education through an educational module on integrative therapies. Methods. This QI project was implemented online at the University of Arizona TLC on 10 simulated palliative care patients (SPs) using Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The SPs completed a pre-test survey to determine their baseline knowledge of integrative therapies before participating in a 20-minute Panopto educational module. After completing the educational module, the SPs answered a post-test survey to assess knowledge acquisition of integrative therapies and a post-test questionnaire to evaluate the feasibility of the educational module as a tool to deliver patient education. Results. The educational module resulted in knowledge acquisition among the SPs (N= 10) with a mean improvement of 2.6 correct answers and a standard deviation of 2.01. There was a statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test scores (P= 0.003). The SPs who completed the post-test questionnaire (N= 9) stated that they “strongly agree” and “somewhat agree” that the educational module was a feasible tool for patient education. Only one SP (11.1%) “neither agreed nor disagreed” that the overall presentation of the educational module was conducive to learning. Conclusions. An educational module on integrative therapies used in palliative care was a feasible tool for patient education and improved patient knowledge of integrative therapies. Ongoing implementation of the educational module can benefit more palliative care patients. To help advance future practice and research in palliative care, the results from this pilot project can be disseminated to other palliative care clinics or institutions.

Name thesis:degree_name

D.N.P.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Graduate College

Grantor dc:publisher

The University of Arizona.

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Diola, Lea

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Rishel, Cindy J.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Morrison, Helena W.
• Carlisle, Heather L.

• Complementary therapies
• Integrative medicine
• Integrative palliative care
• Integrative therapies
• Integrative therapy education
• Palliative care

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction, presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10150/650865

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/650865