Sharing Current Scottish Practice

Poster Abstracts of the Month: September

The SPPC Annual Conference in 2014 featured 40 poster displays, sharing work and research underway across Scotland. Each month, this blog focuses on the content of a few of these posters. This month, we focus on:

• Using an Outcome Measure in a Palliative Day Care Unit
• Volunteer support to improve well-being for patients and carers
• Volunteers - vital to hospice viability
• Widening Access to Services for Children of Palliative Patients

Using an Outcome Measure in a Palliative Day Care Unit

Author(s) of poster: Joyce McNaught, Elaine Blair, Mairi Ann Higgins, Susan Jackson

Palliative day care can play an important role for people who are living with a chronic, life limiting illness by providing opportunities for social interaction, reducing social isolation and also promoting a sense of control. In today's climate of clinical governance and scrutiny it is vital for staff within Day Therapy Units (DTU) to be able to demonstrate the value of their service. Outcome measures are one such way of achieving this however within palliative care can pose significant challenges due to the declining function of the patients that confuse the apparent efficacy of the interventions. The Therapy Outcome Measure (TOM), a validated tool which allows therapists and nurses to describe the abilities and difficulties of patients in the domains of impairment, activity, participation and wellbeing to monitor changes of time was introduced within DTU at Accord Hospice. A retrospective review of 16 patient case notes was carried out to determine whether the tool was indeed an effective way of measuring outcomes and whether it influenced staff when making decisions about discharge. It also allowed staff to review their processes and documentation.

Volunteer support to improve well-being for patients and carers

Author(s) of poster: Susan High, Anne Marie Toland

Background: It has been observed that carers experience a level of illness or disability which is more than twice the level of the general public (Carers Scotland 2011).There is also evidence that early intervention offering emotional/practical support to carers at end of life improves confidence and resilience, supporting preferred place of care. (Princess Royal Trust for Carers/Crossroads 2011). Method Volunteers were recruited via Volunteer Action North Lanarkshire, existing hospice volunteers and local media. Training was given in befriending, boundaries and self-care. Ongoing training included communication skills, moving/handling, relaxation techniques, dementia friendliness, supporting reminiscing. Results 134 referrals were assessed by CNS. Support provided included information about other services, complementary therapy, befriending and short carer respite. The most frequently provided support was complementary therapy. Many accessed a combination of services 31 volunteers were trained in first 6 months. Feedback from service users and volunteers has been very positive. ‘It makes me feel I want to go out – I can relax for a few hours’ ‘My volunteer befriender takes away my fears – I feel like part of society again’ Discussion Evaluation is ongoing but this model provides a sustainable means of supporting carers which is transferable to other geographical locations.

Volunteers - vital to hospice viability

Author(s) of poster: Ros Scott, Richard Carling, Jean Hindmarch

Background: Volunteers play a significant role in hospice and palliative care enabling services to offer a wider range of care and support to more people with life-limiting conditions. This poster summarises the findings from a research study that explored the relationship between volunteering and independent hospice sustainability in the UK.

The purpose of the study was to:

• explore the influence of volunteers on four key organisational sustainability factors in UK hospices

•gain an insight into how volunteering is understood by senior staff, volunteers and trustees;

•consider the relationship between volunteering and independent hospice sustainability.

Methods: Data was gathered using a self-administered online questionnaire from trustees, senior staff and volunteers from a total of 32 adult and children’s hospices.

Findings: Findings indicate that volunteers:

•are central to the variety and quality of services delivered

•are important to patient care and family support

•help to reduce taboos around death, dying and bereavement

• make services viable.

Conclusion: Hospices should recognise the strategic significance of and their dependence on volunteering in planning for the future. As a key component of the workforce hospices should also consider the sustainability of their voluntary service, including the role of trustees.

Widening Access to Services for Children of Palliative Patients

Author(s) of poster: Julie Marshall

We looked at widening access to services for children and young people affected by the life-limiting condition of someone close to them. Current services available in Ayrshire and Arran and hospices (including Ayrshire) in Scotland and England were scoped. There were consultations with teaching staff from 12 primary schools and small informal consultations with bereaved parents and children. Joint fundraising and education pack was designed in consultation with teachers in order to start engaging with school communities and create deliberate funding streams to provide the service. A study day explored the needs of bereaved children. As a result of this a Children & Young Person’s Service has been set up and piloted. The service provides: 1:1 support for primary aged children upwards to 16 Family work when children are under primary age Group work Information and advice to any family affected by any illness or death, regardless of the circumstances Advice, guidance and support to other agencies and professionals The service has also contributed to the public health promotion that being more open about death and dying leads to better mental health (www.goodlifedeathgrief.org.uk) evidencing that professional knowledge in supporting the needs of this particular group of children has increased.