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Background: The VA has made a commitment to Veterans regarding End-of-Life care through the Promise Program. In addition to the physical care, important aspects of the program include communication between patient, family and care providers and emotional support. In order to meet the needs of the Veteran population faced with End-of-Life decisions, it is critical to determine the educational preparation and comfort level that healthcare providers report in relation to End-of-Life discussions.
Methods: A qualtrics survey was distributed to VA Boston Healthcare providers. The survey consisted of 9 questions related to demographics (area of practice, years in practice), educational preparation related to end of life care, initiation of end of life discussions with patients and caregivers, knowledge of available resources within the VA Boston Healthcare System and interest in additional educational offerings related to end of life/palliative care workshops.
Results: Ninety-five percent of the 43 individuals who completed the survey were from the nursing service. The respondents stated that 55% had not received any formal education in End of Life Care. Fifty-seven percent of respondents stated that they rarely or never initiated end of life conversations with their patients and slightly more than half reported feeling comfortable with end of life discussions. An important finding was that 100% of respondents requested additional education on End-of-Life Care. The results of this evidence based project have been shared within the VA Boston Healthcare System. Future research is being planned to evaluate the entire healthcare team regarding End of Life Discussions and educational programs are being planned.