An e-Learning Intervention for Professionals to Promote Family-Centered Cancer Care When a Significant Caregiver for Children Is at End of Life: Mixed Methods Evaluation Study
Authors: Semple Cherith Jane , O'Neill Carla , Sheehan Sarah , McCance Tanya , Drury Amanda , Hanna Jeffrey R 
Published: December 2024

Background

Families are often unsure how best to prepare dependent children for the death of a significant caregiver with a poor cancer prognosis and seek guidance and support from health care teams. Health and social care professionals (hereafter referred to as professionals) often lack educational opportunities to gain the desired knowledge, skills, and confidence to provide family-centered supportive cancer care. e-Learning has positively impacted access and reach, improving educational opportunities in health care.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the acceptability, usability, and effectiveness of an evidence-based, theory-driven e-learning intervention to equip and promote professionals’ self-efficacy to deliver family-centered supportive cancer care when a significant caregiving member for dependent children is at the end of life.

Methods

Guided by the “person-based approach,” a mixed methods outcome evaluation was used. To determine the effect on self-efficacy, participants completed a validated pretest and posttest 12-item self-efficacy survey. The use of one-on-one, remote semistructured interviews and single-item questions determined the usability by professionals of the e-learning intervention and the acceptability of perceived learning in clinical practice. To generate enhanced insights, quantitative and qualitative data were integrated through a 4-stage, modified pillar integration process.

Results

Overall, 158 participants completed the pretest survey for the e-learning resource, with 99 (62.7%) completing the posttest survey. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 professionals at least 1 month after the intervention. Findings highlighted a statistically significant improvement in posttest self-efficacy (99/158, 62.7%; P<.001). Usability of the e-learning intervention was positive, with participants reporting that it was clear and organized (mean 4.84, SD 0.373), the layout was appealing (mean 4.71, SD 0.539), the language was easy to understand (mean 4.71, SD 0.407), and graphics and media were purposeful (mean 4.76, SD 0.495) and engaging (mean 4.67, SD 0.703). Determining acceptability, participants considered that the intervention would positively impact practice (mean 4.60, SD 0.589) and increase knowledge (mean 4.56, SD 0.677), with appropriate practical examples to support learning (mean 4.58, SD 0.610). Following engagement with the e-learning intervention, professionals reported preparedness to deliver supportive adult-professional end-of-life cancer care, when an adult with significant caregiving responsibilities is dying. Findings demonstrated transferable learning to additional contexts, such as other close adult-child relational bonds (grandparents) and to life-limiting conditions.

Conclusions

The systematic and iterative person-based approach optimized the acceptability of a novel e-learning intervention, having the potential to promote family-centered supportive end-of-life cancer care. This accessible e-learning intervention makes an important contribution to the recognized global gap of educational interventions in this field. Equipping professionals with family-centered supportive end-of-life care improves self-efficacy and preparedness to engage in challenging conversations, with the potential to promote better outcomes for affected adults and children and mediate adverse outcomes for adults and children before and after bereavement.