Research Centre for Palliative Care, Death and Dying, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
Aust J Prim Health. 2023 Aug;29(4):341-348. doi: 10.1071/PY22178.
The Australian population is aging, and the proportion of older Australians will continue to grow over the coming decades. However, there is a lack of research published on the specific roles and responsibilities of allied health professionals (AHPs) providing palliative care within an aged care context. Understanding the roles and needs of AHPs providing care during the last months of life in the community and aged care facilities could contribute to workforce planning, targeted information and improved care.
In total, 108 eSurveys were collected between November 2019 to May 2020 from three allied health professions working in government-funded aged care; the majority of these being in residential aged care. Descriptive data are reported on the provision of care in key palliative care domains, care settings and practice activity.
Nearly all respondents reported they had worked with older Australians who had palliative care needs. However, over one-third of respondents reported low levels of confidence in supporting clients or residents with palliative care needs. The majority indicated they would benefit from additional education and training and support in palliative care.
This study investigated the role of the allied health workforce in contributing to the care of older Australians at the end of life. It has also demonstrated that there are gaps in practice activity and work role that must be addressed to ensure this workforce can support older people with palliative care needs in receipt of aged care services.
澳大利亚人口老龄化，在未来几十年内，老年澳大利亚人的比例将继续增长。然而，在为老年护理背景下提供姑息治疗的医疗保健专业人员（AHPs）的具体角色和责任方面，缺乏已发表的研究。了解在社区和老年护理机构中为生命最后几个月提供护理的 AHPs 的角色和需求，有助于进行劳动力规划、提供有针对性的信息和改善护理。
2019 年 11 月至 2020 年 5 月期间，共从三个在政府资助的老年护理机构中工作的医疗保健专业人员中收集了 108 份电子调查，其中大多数人在养老院工作。报告了在姑息治疗关键领域、护理环境和实践活动中提供护理的描述性数据。
几乎所有受访者都报告说他们曾与有姑息治疗需求的老年澳大利亚人一起工作过。然而，超过三分之一的受访者报告称，他们对支持有姑息治疗需求的客户或居民的信心水平较低。大多数人表示，他们将受益于姑息治疗方面的额外教育和培训以及支持。
本研究调查了医疗保健辅助人员在为生命末期的老年澳大利亚人提供护理方面的作用。它还表明，在实践活动和工作角色方面存在差距，必须加以解决，以确保这一劳动力能够支持接受老年护理服务的有姑息治疗需求的老年人。
