Abstract

This project was designed as a repeated-measures research study to evaluate the effect of a web-based cultural competence intervention on hospice providers' cultural competence and to establish acceptability, feasibility, and potential effect size prior to a future longitudinal intervention  study. Since funding began in May 2008, significant work has been completed to tailor a previously developed Culture and End of Life web-based learning program to the specific needs of hospice providers. Although major barriers to participant recruitment were encountered, the project team has now expanded the call to participate and expects to successfully complete this critical pilot study this year.

Project Report

The growing diversity within countries throughout the world compels a corresponding growth in culturally-congruent care to ensure optimal and equitable health care outcomes. During end of life, a time of heightened stress for patients and their families, cultural congruence is essential to quality care. Hospice providers are key points of contact with patients and families; thus, improving hospice providers’ cultural competence is central to the health care system’s ability to provide access to and delivery of high-quality, high-value health care to patients of all cultures. This project was designed as a repeated-measures research study with specific aims to 1) evaluate the effect of a web-based cultural competence intervention on hospice providers' cultural competence and 2) to establish acceptability, feasibility, and potential effect size prior to a future longitudinal web-based cultural competence intervention for hospice providers.

Since this project was funded by MAPI in May 2008, intensive work was completed to revise and update the existing Culture & End of Life learning modules originally designed by our colleagues at Talaria, Inc of Seattle, Washington. Modification of case studies, graphics, and text has been completed so that the new program better reflects the specific context of hospice care and addresses the learning needs of hospice and palliative care providers.  The tailored modules are now ready fully ready for pilot testing with hospice providers.