Evaluation of the National Train-the-Trainer Program for Hospice and Palliative Care in Korea

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> To evaluate the effectiveness of the National Train-the-Trainers Program for Hospice andPalliative Care Experts (TTHPC) sponsored by the National Cancer Center of Korea between 2009 and 2012.This program was developed to improve the teaching skills of those in the field of hospice and palliative care(HPC). Materials and <br/><b>Methods</b>: Training was offered in eight 1-day sessions between 2009 and 2012. The effectof the program was measured using Kirkpatrick’s model of educational outcomes. First, levels 1 and 2 wereevaluated immediately after the 1-day program (n=120). In 2012, the level-3 evaluation test was administered totrainers who offered at least one HPC training (n=78) as well as to their trainees (n=537). <br/><b>Results</b>: The level-1evaluation addressed participant reactions to and satisfaction with the program. Participants (n=120) weregenerally satisfied with the content, the method, and the overall course (mean range: 3.94-4.46 on a five-pointLikert scale). The level-2 evaluation (learning) showed that participants gained knowledge and confidencerelated to teaching HPC (4.24 vs. 4.00). The level-3 evaluation (behavioral), which assessed trainers’ applicationof teaching skills to HPC, showed that trainees rated the teaching methods of trainers (mean range: 4.03-4.08)more positively than did trainers (p<0.05). Female trainers were more likely than were male trainers to plansessions in consideration of their trainees’ characteristics (4.11 vs. 3.58; p<0.05), and nurse trainers were morelikely than physician trainers to use a variety of instructional methods (4.05 vs. 3.36; p<0.05) <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Weconducted systematic evaluations based on Kirkpatrick’s model to assess the effectiveness of our train-thetrainersprogram. Our educational program was practical, effective, and followed by our HPC experts, whoneeded guidance to learn and improve their clinical teaching skills.