Reducing the Barriers to Pain Management in Albania: Results from an Educational Seminar with Family Doctors

End-of-Life Care Education as Blended Learning Approach for General Practitioners: a Scoping Review

General practitioners (GPs) are critical in providing primary palliative care in the community. Apprehensions about managing a dying person at home, difficulties in goals of care discussion, limited resources and lack of palliative care education often hinder end-of-life care provision in the community. This review focused on the end-of-life care training programs accessed by GPs and sought to understand if the training programs' content and mode of delivery aligned with their preferred needs. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched to identify articles published in English between 01 January 1990 and 30 September 2022. Additionally, searches were conducted using SCOPUS, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane database using free texts. The reviewers screened the titles, abstracts, and full text to identify eligible studies and extracted textual data to analyse and generate themes. Out of 5532 citations initially accessed, 17 studies were included in the review. Six themes were generated: knowledge translation, skill development, a change in attitude, self-efficacy, satisfaction, and patient outcomes. The GPs' end-of-life care knowledge, skills, attitude, self-efficacy, and patient outcomes were better when their training had a combination of small-group interactive workshops, trigger case-based reflective learning, mentor-facilitated experiential learning, web-based modules, and peer learning. The synthesis of review findings supports blended learning as a training approach for general the practitioners' end-of-life care education as it facilitates learning and patient outcomes.

From Two Dimensions to Multidimensions: A Mechanistic Model to Support Deliberate CPD Development, Coordination, and Evaluation

INTRODUCTION

The effectiveness of continuing professional development as an intervention to improve health professional behavior and patient health is variable and contentious. To clarify the causal relationships underlying program outcomes and facilitate a necessary shift from outcomes-only-based approaches to outcome-based and theory-based approaches in program development and evaluation, we developed a model of mechanisms mapped to relevant outcomes.

METHODS

Mechanisms identified in a prior realist synthesis of opioid agonist therapy continuing professional development programs were iteratively tested and refined using purposive and opportunistic sampling and realist approaches against two systematic reviews of programs in analgesic prescribing and palliative care. Further testing involved practical application within programs in sustainable health care and pain management.

RESULTS

Ninety reports on 75 programs and practical application to multiple additional programs informed the final model consisting of five distinct mechanisms: motivation transformation, expert influence, confidence development, self-efficacy facilitation, and community of practice expansion. The mechanisms and related analysis emphasize that continuing professional development is heterogeneous, complex, and context dependent.

DISCUSSION

Shifting toward outcome-based and theory-based approaches facilitates further conceptual shifts at intraprogram and interprogram and interintervention levels toward more deliberate program development and evaluation, increased program complementarity and subsequent collaboration. It clarifies opportunities for intercalation of continuing professional development with other intervention sciences. The model presents a resource for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to advance continuing professional development planning, coordination, and evaluation.

Attitudes, Knowledge, and Perceived Barriers Towards Cancer Pain Management Among Healthcare Professionals in Libya: a National Multicenter Survey

Cancer pain presents in approximately 66% of patients in advanced stages. Although several guidelines and pharmacological options are available for cancer pain management (CPM), assessment and treatment of cancer pain remain inadequate globally, particularly in developing countries. Lack of knowledge and negative attitudes towards CPM among healthcare professionals (HCPs) are important barriers to CPM. This survey aimed to evaluate nurses' and physicians' knowledge, attitudes, and potential barriers regarding CPM in Libya. This cross-sectional survey involved a convenience sample of 152 oncology nurses and physicians working in six oncology settings in Libya. The response rate was 76%. The Barriers Questionnaire II (BQ-II) was used for data collection (higher scores signify greater attitudinal barriers and poorer knowledge). Data analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26 software. An independent t-test (unadjusted estimate) indicated that Libyan nurses showed higher mean barrier scores (mean = 3.8, SD = 0.7) to CPM than physicians (mean = 2.9, SD = 0.8), p < 0.001. The six most common differences in attitudinal barriers between nurses and physicians were "opioid side effects," "poor tolerance," "strong patient endures pain," "distract the physician," "drug addiction," and "opioids impair immune function," p < 0.001. Multiple regression results (adjusted estimate) indicated that nurses had more barrier scores to CPM than physicians (B =  - 0.530, p < 0.05), and participants with higher educational levels were associated with lower barrier scores to CPM (B =  - 0.641, p < 0.05). Our results suggest that Libyan oncology HCPs hold perceived barriers, lack of knowledge, and negative attitudes towards CPM. Professional education and training in CPM, addressing phobia and myths on opioid usage, and the benefits and complications of using opioids are likely to result in reduced barriers to CPM in Libya.

Continuing Professional Development for Primary Care Providers in Palliative and End-of-Life Care: A Systematic Review

Background and Objective: This review updates and expands on previous reviews of educational interventions for primary care providers (PCPs) involved in palliative and end-of-life care (PEoLC) and is the first to include early studies related to medical assistance in dying (MAiD). Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across five electronic databases to locate published interventional studies related to ongoing PEoLC and/or MAiD education for primary care professionals. A descriptive summary of results and a narrative discussion of common themes and comparisons are provided. Results: Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. The researchers found a myriad of interventions, including courses based, practical experience, mentoring, and workshops. The researchers categorized results by four domains: attitude, confidence, knowledge, and skills. Across domains, seven educational topics emerged: general care, interprofessional collaboration, nutrition, pain and symptom management, patient communication, and professional coping. Overall, studies employed various methodologies, but often relied on cross-sectionally measured self-assessment. Two articles were found that measured the impact of MAiD education. Conclusion: These findings suggest that PEoLC education can improve PCPs' perceived attitudes, confidence, knowledge, and skills across multiple areas of palliative care practice. While PCPs across studies valued educational interventions, the findings relating to the impact of PEoLC education on PCP's provision of effective PEoLC were unclear. However, most interventions resulted in enhanced confidence and knowledge. To date, there are only two studies that have examined MAiD educational programs. There is a need for studies of higher rigor with more emphasis on follow-up to clarify the impact training has on those involved in PEoLC and MAiD.

Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Patients With Cancer in Korçe, Albania

PURPOSE:

The primary objective of this study was to quantify cancer family caregiver (FCG) quality of life (QOL) in a Southern Albanian population and to determine whether differences exist between 4 domains of QOL (physical, psychological, social, and spiritual). This study also sought to compare QOL in our cohort to QOL in historical studies that used the same survey instrument, and to examine correlations between demographic characteristics and QOL to identify any high-risk groups.

METHODS:

A sample of 40 FCGs was recruited at the Mary Potter Palliative Care Clinic in Korçe, Albania. Each participant completed the City of Hope Quality of Life (Family Version), a validated 37-question instrument that measures caregiver well-being in 4 domains: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being.

RESULTS:

There were no significant differences between the composite scores of the 4 QOL domains in our study. However, there were differences when comparing self-reported QOL between domains ("Rate your overall physical/psychological/social/spiritual well-being"). The QOL measured in our study was significantly lower than in 3 studies from the United States that used the same questionnaire. There were no significant correlations between demographic groups and QOL.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study examines the impact that the paucity of palliative services has on the QOL of Albanian cancer FCGs. Although there were no domains of QOL or demographic groups identified in our study that were faring significantly worse than others, the poor overall QOL provides further evidence to support the continued development of palliative services for both patients and family members in Albania.

Attitudes of Medical Students Regarding Cancer Pain Management: Comparison Between Pre- and Post-Lecture Test Findings

BACKGROUND

Medical practitioners' attitudes have a significant impact on quality of care for cancer pain patients. This study was conducted to determine if being given a lecture concerning cancer pain and its management could improve the attitudes of medical students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A comparative study was conducted in 126 fifth-year medical students. Each student completed a pretest consisting of 3 questions about attitudes toward the optimal use of analgesics and 5 questions about attitudes toward prescribing opioids. Then they were given a 1.5-hour lecture, immediately following which they completed a post-test with the same questions.

RESULTS

Analysis with either comparison between groups or by matching, the post-test showed significantly more positive attitudes (p<0.05) of the medical students in all 3 questions about optimal use of analgesics and 4 out of 5 questions about prescription of opioids. The post-test results showed significantly more negative attitudes concerning the most appropriate stage for patients with severe pain to receive maximal doses of analgesics.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative attitudes, especially concerns about addiction, have been associated with a reluctance in many physicians to prescribe opioids. This study found that cancer pain education can help to improve medical student attitudes. However, fear of addiction and tolerance was still evident so emphasis of this particular issue during a lecture is essential. Providing appropriate information by means of a lecture can improve the attitudes of medical students regarding cancer pain management. However, more information should be given to lessen fear of addiction and tolerance.