Background

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people express a wish to be cared for, and to pass, at home or on Country surrounded by family if possible. There are many barriers to achieving this aim; one being the ability to provide timely and effective symptom control.

 

Aim 

The aim of this presentation is to report on the evaluation of new culturally-appropriate caring@home resources (packaged as a Palliative Care Clinic Box) developed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to help them manage symptoms at home. 

Methods  

Organisations/clinical services could order a free Clinic Box via the caring@home website. A link to an anonymous survey was emailed to each recipient of a Clinic Box approximately two months after dispatch. The survey had 17 questions – 2 open-ended, 6 demographic questions, 8 Likert-scale questions, 1 Yes/No.

Completion of the survey was taken as consent to participate.

Results 

Sixty-two responses were received. Fifteen percent of respondents identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; 82% percent provided direct clinical care. 

Participants agreed the resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families:

·         Are written in appropriate language (82%)

·         Will be useful for this community (84%)

·         May contribute to effective and efficient symptom control (83.5%)

·         May contribute to enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be cared for at home or on Country (87.5%)

·         Will contribute to improved quality of palliative care provided by clinical services (91%)

The overwhelming majority of participants (95%) said they will use the resources in their clinical practice.

Conclusions

Clinical services can use the resources to support quality end-of-life care. Using caring@home resources will improve the end-of-life choices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and support end-of-life care at home or on Country.

caring@home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Families is funded by the Australian Government.