Study design

Study design was informed by a clinical pragmatist philosophy and worldview [26]. Pragmatism does not commit itself to a specific epistemology or reality, rather, methods are selected on their relevance to the issue under investigation. A pragmatist approach views thoughts and actions as interlinked and that consequences of actions influence future choices [27]. Adopting a pragmatic worldview [28] enabled a focus on what works or doesn’t work in clinical practice around end-of-life care provision and perceived benefits of EOLE online education modules on health professionals’ behaviour and choices around that care. A qualitative evaluation was conducted with multidisciplinary health professionals who had enrolled in EOLE and completed a minimum of three online education modules. A minimum of three modules ensured that participants would be able to speak to module content. For the purposes of this study, end-of-life care is defined as “the services provided around the immediate time of death, or broadly as the approach adopted once it is clear that a health condition is likely to lead to death in the relatively near future” [28].