OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a systematic long-term care ethics education program changes participant knowledge, skill levels, and utilization of a statewide regional long-term care ethics committee network. DESIGN: Forty-four on-site ethics education programs. PARTICIPANTS: Six hundred long-term care health professionals representing 217 long-term care facilities located within New Jersey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre and Post training surveys measure changes in participant ethics knowledge and self-perceived comfort levels in dealing with a variety of dilemmas, including end-of-life care issues. Evaluation of changes in number and type of cases referred to the NJ Office of the Ombudsman for dispute resolution before and after the inception of the training programs and the utilization of regional ethics committees for this purpose. RESULTS: In the period since the first educational session was offered in 1998, the number of NJ regional ethics committees has increased from ten to fifteen. These regional ethics committees now serve two hundred and three member facilities. In the same period, end-of-life cases referred to the Office of the Ombudsman for dispute resolution decreased from fifty-eight cases in 1998 to nineteen in 1999. Preliminary data also shows significant increases in participant knowledge relevant to ethics committee functions and case consultation methodologies.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to:
Keywords: Ethics Training, Long-Term Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: grants