Patients with head and neck (H&N) or upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer have significant swallowing, nutrition and/or communication issues requiring specialist management. Dietitians and speech pathologists in rural settings have limited opportunity to gain specialist experience. Gippsland Regional Integrated Cancer Services (GRICS), Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (PMCC) and St Vincent’s Hospital (Melbourne) (STV) collaborated to deliver hands-on education and mentoring to Gippsland clinicians to strengthen their ability to manage patients locally.
1. Improve knowledge, confidence and skills of Gippsland clinicians in caring for patients with H&N/UGI cancer
2. Establish links with metropolitan clinicians to provide peer support/mentoring
3. Improve communication and care coordination for Gippsland patients across regional/metropolitan boundaries
4. Reduce the frequency in which Gippsland patients need to travel to STV or PMCC for ongoing nutrition or speech pathology care.
GRICS surveyed Gippsland allied health professionals to determine their oncology educational needs. Fifteen dietitians and 11 speech pathologists identified H&N/UGI cancer. Regional training in evidence based management of H&N/UGI cancer was conducted by metropolitan clinicians followed by shadowing visits at metropolitan sites to consolidate skills. Post training outcomes were evaluated.
Twelve speech pathologists and 12 dietitians attended the two day workshop. Ninety six per cent indicated their clinical practice would change as a result of attending the workshop; 100% had made contacts with metropolitan colleagues and 100% had a better understanding of care coordination requirements. Seven speech pathologists and four dietitians undertook shadowing visits at metropolitan sites, with 100% of mentees meeting their learning objectives and reporting greater confidence in caring for these patients. Results demonstrate that objectives one to three have been strongly met (objective four currently being evaluated).
This project was highly successful in up-skilling Gippsland clinicians in H&N/UGI cancer management. This project should continue to be used as a model for other tumour streams and allied health disciplines.