13 Introduction to teaching intimacy in hospice setting

<h3>Background</h3> Holistic care is a key tenet of palliative care, but can it be truly holistic if intimacy conversations are not facilitated in our initial assessments? This is a deeply personal yet often overlooked aspect of overall well-being. Giving opportunity to discuss these issues can affirm patient dignity and identity and promote emotional and psychological wellbeing. We wanted to explore the potential barriers to intimacy conversations within a hospice setting. <h3>Method</h3> Baseline data was collected through an anonymous online questionnaire capturing the multi-disciplinary team (MDT)’s experience and perspectives on discussing intimacy with patients and their partners. Subsequently, an educational session was conducted for all MDT members focusing on the importance of intimacy, identifying the potential barriers to effective discussions, and providing communication strategies along with relevant signposting resources. To assess impact of this session participants completed a post-session questionnaire designed to evaluate changes in awareness and confidence regarding these discussions. <h3>Results</h3> 13 respondents completed the pre-session questionnaire, while 10 participated in the post-session assessment, with respondents from medical, nursing and allied health professional backgrounds. The initial questionnaire revealed that 76% had no prior experience discussing intimacy, and 70% reported feeling uncomfortable initiating such conversations. Additionally 92% were unaware of available resources for addressing intimacy concerns with patients. In contrast, the post-session questionnaire indicated a significant increase in confidence: 80% felt comfortable initiating discussions about intimacy, with 100% being aware of barriers to these conversations and knew how to direct patients to appropriate resources if needed. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Introducing teaching sessions on intimacy significantly enhanced staff awareness and emphasized its role as a vital component of holistic care with reported increased confidence in initiating conversations about intimacy. To maintain elevated awareness and confidence ongoing education is essential. Impact of these training sessions will be further assessed as staff apply their knowledge in real-world conversations.