RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Confidence and skills for cystic fibrosis end-of-life care
JF BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
JO BMJ Support Palliat Care
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP bmjspcare-2020-002274
DO 10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002274
A1 Eva Harris-Skillman
A1 Stephen Chapman
A1 Aoife Lowney
A1 Mary Miller
A1 William Flight
YR 2020
UL http://spcare.bmj.com/content/early/2020/03/25/bmjspcare-2020-002274.abstract
AB Objectives Optimal cystic fibrosis (CF) end-of-life care (EOLC) is a challenge. There is little formal guidance about who should deliver this and how CF multi-disciplinary teams should interact with specialist palliative care. We assessed the knowledge, experience and preparedness of both CF and palliative care professionals for CF EOLC.Methods An electronic questionnaire was distributed to all members of the Oxford adult CF and palliative care teams.Results 35 of a possible 63 members responded (19 CF team; 16 palliative care). Levels of preparedness were low in both groups. Only 11% of CF and 19% of palliative care team members felt fully prepared for EOLC in adult CF. 58% of CF members had no (21%) or minimal (37%) general palliative care training. Similarly, 69% of the palliative care team had no CF-specific training. All respondents desired additional education. CF team members preferred further education in general EOLC while palliative care team members emphasised a need for more CF-specific knowledge.Conclusions Few members of either the CF or palliative care teams felt fully prepared to deliver CF EOLC and many desired additional educations. They expressed complementary knowledge gaps, which suggests both could benefit from increased collaboration and sharing of specialist knowledge.