2024 Volume 19 Issue 4 Pages 279-284
This study aims to clarify the impact of continuous outreach activities on home care nurses in a community where palliative care professionals are absent. We have continued this outreach activities in Tome-City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan since July 2018 and conducted the questionnaire surveys (five-point scale and text open-ended questions) at the beginning of the activities, and two years later, using a Likert method and free writing about their difficulties, confidence and motivation regarding palliative care. As a result, home care nurses in Tome City (39 respondents at the start of palliative outreach, and 24 at 2 years) completed the survey. There was no significant difference between at the start and after 2 years, but 66.7% of participants reported outreach activities as effective after 2 years. In our analysis of free-form text responses, that nurses’ perspectives of end-life care had expanded and their confidence improved over time. There is possibility that outreach activities are useful in reducing their difficulties and improving their confidence. However, it will take time over the medium to long term to spread the influence to the entire region.
