The Informing Families Cork Pilot project has completed its two year program. The learning from the pilot project has produced a 'Roadmap for Implementation' from which a range of materials and supports have been developed to inform roll-out of the National Best Practice Guidelines for Informing Families of their Child's Disability around the country. These tools and materials were launched by Mr. John Moloney, T.D., Minister for Equality, Disability and Mental Health at the Aula Maxima in University College Cork on 28 June 2010:
- Template for roll-out of guidelines
- Training materials (validated through the training evaluation analysis)
- Website of materials suitable for supply to parents (www.informingfamilies.ie)
- E-learning module
- Safe Cross Code poster
Below are some of the key outcomes from the pilot project that are included in the final report:
Dissemination of the Guidelines across the Cork Region
A wide range of professionals from various disciplines in the acute, community and disability service settings across the Cork region have now received the guidelines, through a process of dissemination with various strands, including directly disseminating the booklets and DVDs (with tracking sheets for monitoring) and a Train the Trainers course. This course trained 30 professionals in the Guidelines with the aim that they would disseminate the learning in their area or discipline. Following on from this there have been courses run by Speech and Language Therapists, Community Psychologists, Early Services Teams.
National Dissemination facilitated through the Cork Pilot
A presentation was given at the national study day of the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on 25 September 2009 to promote the Informing Families Guidelines. This was organised through the Cork Pilot Project, by Consultant Obstetrician Dr. Keelin O’Donoghue, and took place at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland on Kildare St.
Simiarly, through the work of the pilot project a presentation on the Guidelines was made at the joint Welsh and Irish Paediatric Associations meeting, which took place in May of 2009, and which has led to significant developments in the dissemination of the Guidelines at a national level.
Results from Training Evaluation
Over 250 participants in the Informing Families Cork Pilot Project received training in best practice for informing families of their child's disability, including 4th year medical students, 2nd year nursing and midwifery students and post-graduate Public Health Nurses, and paediatric and neonatal non-consultant hospital doctors.
A pre-and post training questionnaire was administered to evaluate the effectiveness of the training, looking in particular at the areas of knowledge, comfort and confidence of participants with regards to informing families of a child's disabiltiy. The work undertaken to analyse the training provided in the Cork Pilot has been completed and has shown a statistically significant improvement in knowledge, comfort and confidence for those who have participated. This is currently being written up in an article which will be targeted at a peer reviewed paediatric journal.
Above: Non-consultant hospital doctors take part in training during the pilot project
Development of ‘Seomra 7’ in CUH – room to communicate in private
A private room adjacent to the paediatric department in Cork University Hospital has been refurbished as part of the pilot project, so that it can be used to communicate difficult news to parents, and is available for parents to spend time in following discussions of that nature. ‘Before’ and ‘After’ photos have been taken, and the room will be officially opened by the CEO of Cork University Hospital shortly. Rooms in other locations that are housed in participating organisations were audited against the recommendations of the guidelines and improvements made where necessary.
'Seomra 7' Before refurbishment:
'Seomra 7' After Refurbishment:
