96826 Optimising End-of-Life Communication
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Credit points: 3 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksDescription
This subject equips students to develop specialised knowledge and skills to engage in effective communication and facilitate shared decision making at the end-of-life for patients and their families/carers. Students use innovative and thoughtful ways of working to synthesise current theoretical and evidence-based communication models, including digital health to optimise communication. Students consolidate and apply these new communications skills and knowledge to a person-centred care practice scenario. The scenario is relevant to students' workplace practice now and into the future and considers models and settings of care.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Demonstrate optimal communication tailored to people with differing palliative care needs, social and life circumstances, and their families, within varied healthcare settings |
|---|---|
| B. | Evaluate creative ways of working to optimise communication and shared decision making that support person-centred palliative care in a digital age |
| C. | Compose and implement effective communication strategies to manage patients or families expressing high levels of distress and/or anger |
Teaching and learning strategies
Class Preparation
Learning the specialised knowledge and skills involved in optimising communication at the end of life will occur through engagement with online modules and Zoom meetings, with a focus on knowledge development, practise and consolidation. The online learning platform ‘Canvas’ will be used to facilitate the delivery of the online subject modules and subject announcements. There will be regular online Zoom meetings where the team of interprofessional tutors and students meet for up to an hour. To enable a richer learning experience when interacting with other students and speakers, students will be required to prepare for Zoom sessions in advance by reading, watching videos, and completing online tasks prior to attending.
Enquiry-based Learning
Students will be engaged in interactive learning activities, such as communication skills activities, simulated discussions with patients and families/carers as well as reviews of complex scenarios via discussion boards and Zoom forums. Activities will include collaboration with other students in problem-based learning activities, working in small groups to ‘practice’ complex communication within a safe environment supported both by peers and academic staff as well as interactive online activities to assist students to review and appraise different approaches to communication. Feedback will also be provided for small group Zoom activities, assessment activities and written work.
Developing Communication Skills
Students will clarify complex concepts during Zoom sessions and via engagement in interactive online activities. Case studies and real examples from practice will be used to facilitate discussion, learning and development of toolkits for each student to use within their own scope of practice.
Critical Appraisal
Students will critically appraise their own knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, practice, and communication during Zoom sessions and via engagement in interactive online activities.
Content (topics)
Online Modules
The content of this subject has been organised to enable development of knowledge in relation to models of optimal communication at the end-of-life followed by the opportunity to practice and consolidate skill development in relation to optimal communication approaches for patients with palliative care needs and their families/carers
Subject content will be structured within two modules as follows:
- Module 1 – Frameworks, models and evidence to support excellence in end of life communication
- Module 2 – Skill development and practice in relation to varied aspects of end of life communication and their application to practice and digital health
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Critical reflection on the use of the Medical Situation, Values, and Plan (MVP) model for optimal end-of-life communication and presentation of a communication toolkit
| Intent: | This assessment contributes to student learning by enabling students to practice and appraise complex communication at the end of life supported by a framework for implementation and present a toolkit to inform optimal practice. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .2 and .3 |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | Maximum of 8-minute video with 400-word critical reflection + draft communication toolkit submission. |
Assessment task 2: Enabling optimal communication at the end-of-life: presentation of a toolkit for use in practice
| Intent: | This assessment contributes to student learning by enabling an evidence-based appraisal of learning across the subject and relating this to future clinical practice through the development, evidence-based justification and presentation of a toolkit for practice. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B and C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): .1, .2 and .3 |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 1000-word evidence-based justification + completed toolkit submission. Maximum of 5-minute video submission. |
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
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Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
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Improve your academic and English language skills
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HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
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