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Stream 2A | Concurrent Session | Critical issues in palliative care
2:00 pm
13 September 2023
Darling Harbour Theatre - Level 2
Presentation Streams
Critical issues in palliative care
Session Description
Dive into a comprehensive exploration of critical issues in palliative care during this session. Uncover challenges, innovative solutions, and emerging trends that shape the landscape of end-of-life care.
Session Program
2:00 pm
Panel | Challenges and lessons from COVID
Felicity Burns - Director of Operations, Health and Palliative care - HammondCare, Prof Leeroy William - Clinical Director - Eastern Health, Professor Brendan Murphy - Former Secretary and CMO at Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Dr Philippa Cahill, Professor Elizabeth Lobb - Adjunct Professor of Palliative Care - ImPACCT, Faculty of Health, University of Technology
Dr Leeroy William will facilitate this panel that highlights what we have learned about providing palliative care during a pandemic, and what we need to do to be prepared for future emergency and disaster events. Panellists include Professor Brendan Murphy, immediate past Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care, and Australia’s Chief Medical Officer at the height of the pandemic. Professor Murphy will be joined by panellists with experience in different sectors, all with different insights into our lessons from COVID-19 and solutions we need to embed for the future.
2:45 pm
Background
There are many paradoxes around care at the end of life, death and dying. We live longer with more information but are often surprised by death. We say we want to die at home but mostly die in hospital. Society is changing with an increasingly digital world, diverse work and family patterns, and greater consumer expectations. Given palliative care is situated within these paradoxes, understanding public attitudes could inform approaches to foster death awareness and preparedness.
There are many paradoxes around care at the end of life, death and dying. We live longer with more information but are often surprised by death. We say we want to die at home but mostly die in hospital. Society is changing with an increasingly digital world, diverse work and family patterns, and greater consumer expectations. Given palliative care is situated within these paradoxes, understanding public attitudes could inform approaches to foster death awareness and preparedness.
Aim
To present a critical reflection on the Dying2Learn program and its contribution to palliative care.
Method
Following an investigation of digital options, a massive open online course (MOOC) platform was chosen. Four modules examining death through the language we use, humour and mourning practices; art, literature, and media representations; the role of medicine in how we die; and the internet’s influence on perceptions of death and dying were developed using a constructivist approach. An evaluation framework utilising system data and self-report data as well as a formal research study was designed.
Following an investigation of digital options, a massive open online course (MOOC) platform was chosen. Four modules examining death through the language we use, humour and mourning practices; art, literature, and media representations; the role of medicine in how we die; and the internet’s influence on perceptions of death and dying were developed using a constructivist approach. An evaluation framework utilising system data and self-report data as well as a formal research study was designed.
Key Findings:
Participation rates exceeded expectations with over 6,000 people enrolling.
Participation rates exceeded expectations with over 6,000 people enrolling.
- Participation rates exceeded expectations with over 6,000 people enrolling.
- MOOC activity data showed high levels of engagement with content and positive course evaluation responses. Pre-post results for Death Attitudinal Statements and for the Coping with Death Scale showed significant increases. Follow up surveys showed participants enacted changes in the real world.
- Dying2Learn provided a mechanism to investigate community perspectives around topical issues including VAD, ACP, death doulas, and Covid-19.
- Digital engagement around palliative care, death and dying is feasible and valuable.
Discussion and Implications
Dying2Learn was a successful and powerful vehicle for public conversations around death and dying as a “part of life”. It provided critical and analytical opportunities to examine community attitudes showing the value of incidental and purposeful data collection.
Acknowledgement
The CareSearch Project developed Dying2Learn. CareSearch is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care.
The CareSearch Project developed Dying2Learn. CareSearch is funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care.
