Subject: Experimental basic training in palliative care for health professionals in the whole of an outlying region (Val-de-Travers in the Canton of Neuchaˆtel, Switzerland, 12,000 inhabitants, 11 districts), so as to further a common attitude among the different participants (hospital, medical-social institutions, and home care) towards patients who are approaching the end of their lives and towards their close relatives.
Method: Organising courses given by representative leaders of those receiving the training.-Courses given by the specialists (the doctor and the head nurse) from the main centre of palliative care in the Canton.-The main themes of the training: communication with the patient; control of emotions; evaluation and treatment of the most frequent symptoms.-3-day training given to 5 groups of 25 individuals, drawn from a mix of professions and institutions.-Sponsorship by a pharmaceutical company covering half the cost of the training, thus enabling enrolment fees to be very low.
Results: According to the institutions, between 30% and 60% of carers were included in the training.-90% of the doctors mainly concerned were able to take part.-Both the teams of carers and the family doctors who participated acquired satisfactory group attitudes towards palliative care, when changes were evaluated at the end of the training.
Conclusion: Coherent and homogeneous training in palliative care in a whole region.-Strong commitment of the institutions concerned who released 30% to 60% of their caring staff for this training: there was an exceptionally high rate for the doctors mainly concerned-90% of the doctors in private practice.-Training which furthered working in networks.-Training which developed interdisciplinary working.-A win-win cooperation with the parmaceutical company which became enthusiastic at the success and originality of the experiment and which wished to replicate it in other regions.