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Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Exploring palliative care practice and learning needs of allied health professionals in the Loddon Mallee region of Victoria: a cross-sectional survey

Lucy Rodda https://orcid.org/0009-0008-3751-0115 A and Stephen Barrett https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2505-733X B C *
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Palliative Care Services, Bendigo Health Care Group, PO Box 126, Bendigo, Vic 3552, Australia.

B Research and Innovation, Bendigo Health Care Group, PO Box 126, Bendigo, Vic 3552, Australia.

C Holsworth Research Initiative, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Vic 3552, Australia.

* Correspondence to: Sbarrett@bendigohealth.org.au

Australian Health Review 48(4) 381-387 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH23255
Submitted: 30 November 2023  Accepted: 24 May 2024  Published: 13 June 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of AHHA.

Abstract

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to examine the roles and needs of allied health professionals (AHPs) working in public healthcare settings in rural and regional Victoria, Australia in providing components of palliative care in their routine practice.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and May 2023. Surveys were collected from AHPs working in public healthcare settings in the Loddon Mallee region of Victoria, Australia. Clinicians reported on the frequency of provision of care to patients with terminal illness, and their self-reported skill and confidence in providing interventions to patients with palliative care needs.

Results

In total, 121 clinicians completed the survey. Almost every respondent reported they had provided care to patients with a terminal illness, with 41% of clinicians providing this care daily or weekly. The respondents were confident carrying out generalist interventions such as maintaining physical function but reported lower confidence in managing common symptoms of terminal illness such as loss of appetite, swallowing difficulties and changing communication needs. Two-thirds of respondents had not undertaken any training specific to palliative care, with many unaware of how to access palliative care-specific training.

Conclusion

AHPs in rural and remote areas regularly provide care to patients with terminal illness. As the number of patients seen in non-specialist palliative care settings is likely to increase in rural and regional areas, the low self-reported confidence in providing common components of care, and the low uptake of palliative care-specific training must be addressed to ensure AHPs can provide high-quality care to people with terminal illness.

Keywords: allied health, Australia, end-of-life, education, hospital, palliative care, rural health, survey, training.

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