Project Outline

Aim

The aim of the concurrent evaluation is to examine the effect of the Caru Programme on staff and families following the death of their relative. The evaluation will provide real-time feedback to enhance implementation and consistent high quality palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care to residents and their families.

Evaluation design and methodology

The evaluation, informed by the Re-AIM framework,  uses a two group pre-post design to measure the impact of the Caru Programme over time. A mixed methods approach to data collection includes quantitative survey, qualitative interviews and secondary data analysis.

Results 

Early stage secondary data analysis identified very high levels of satisfaction (>80%)  across all learning components of the Caru Programme. The learning opportunities were highly valued by participants and were associated with a significant  increase in self-reported knowledge on the selected topics. Participants in Project ECHO and the quality improvement workshops expressed an intention to change practice. The main barriers to participation reported by staff participants  were lack of protected time, clinical workloads, and, very occasionally, technical challenges accessing online platforms.

Conclusion

The Caru Programme has a wide reach across nursing homes and community  with staff self-reported increase in knowledge and confidence in end of life and bereavement care.