Barbara Lukaszewska

Barbara Lukaszewska

Hospice Światło, Torun

Poland

barbara.luk88@gmail.com
Current needs of psychologists working in palliative care

 

Background

Psychologists working in palliative care in Kuyavian-Pomeranian district have to deal with different problems, such as: lack of psychological supervision, lack of continual professional training, large numer of patients. Most of them have to work with no support from others.
Several studies [1], [2], [3] showed that there is a place for psychologists in palliative care but their role in a multidisciplinary team should be defined more precisely.
There is no research focused on psychologists’ needs in Poland. Meticulous analyses of their needs and a plan of training and changes is necessary.

Objectives

The main goal is to get knowledge about psychologists‘ needs. A preparation of support format based on the needs is required.

Methods

Psychologists working in 8 palliative care centres in Kuyavian-Pomeranian district will be asked to take a part in the research. Participants (n=15) have to be psychologists working in a palliative care setting: in-patient unit or home hospice.
Qualitative methods (face-to- face structured intereview) will be used. Author of the article will also be an interviewer. Interviews will take a place in each of the 8 palliative care centres in defined period of time (April 2016- August 2016). Conversations will be recorded and transcribed. Transcripts will be analyzed.
Differents groups of responses corresponding to the needs will be identified.

Results/Conclusions

Work in progress.

References
[1] Kasl-Godley, J.E., King, D.A., Quill, T. E. Opportunities for Psychologists in Palliative Care. Working with Patients and Families Across the Disease Continuum. American Psychologist. 2014; 69 (4): 364-376, http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0036735
[2] Junger, S., Payne, S.A., Constantini, A., Kalus, C., Werth, J.L. The EAPC Task Force on Education for Psychologists in Palliative Care. European Journal of Palliative Care. 2010; 17 (2): 84-87, http://www.eapcnet.e
[3] Strachan, J. Finucane A.M., Spiller, J. Clinical Psychologist in a specialist Palliative Care: What do we actually do? Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh, UK, http://www.palliativecarescotland.org.uk