Development of the 'Attentive Visitors' workshop supporting community volunteers in their palliative care signposting role.

BACKGROUND

Community volunteers in palliative care often notice needs that healthcare professionals and family caregivers miss, playing an important signposting role in several settings. However, community volunteers often still go unnoticed, are frequently insufficiently supported and their important contributions underutilized. In order to fulfill a signposting role, community volunteers need knowledge about palliative care needs and community resources; and they should have good relational, communication and observation skills. Training modules specifically aimed at these skills and knowledge can play an important supportive role for community volunteers.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a training to support community volunteers in their signposting role for palliative care of community residents.

STUDY

DESIGN

A formative intervention development study.

METHODS

The training was developed in the form of an interactive workshop. It's materials and protocol were designed and produced based on the following methods: review of available educational resources for community volunteers, 16 program design meetings with a psychologist trainer and 3 stakeholder advisory board meetings.

RESULTS

The learning objectives are to increase awareness and knowledge of the volunteer role and signposting function, palliative care needs and signals, community resources, and increase self-efficacy in communication of care signals with the community resident and with healthcare professionals. The 'Attentive Visitors' workshop consists of a didactic session (7,5 h) focusing on developing knowledge, skills and self-efficacy, and a follow-up session (3 h) focusing on reflection and the exchange of volunteers' knowledge and experiences. Case discussions, reflection exercises and role plays are used to enhance volunteers' insights and skills related to recognizing, describing, responding to and communicating patient needs to healthcare professionals.

CONCLUSION

The evidence-informed Attentive Visitors Workshop aims to support community volunteers in their signposting role and to improve the connection and information exchange between volunteers and healthcare professionals. Future research will pilot and evaluate the workshop's effectiveness, acceptability and feasibility.