Care trajectories and survival after discharge from specialized inpatient palliative care--results from an observational follow-up study

Development of palliative care clinical practice guidelines and referral care pathways for primary care practitioners in Pakistan

BACKGROUND

Despite a large burden of life-limitingillness, there exists a dearth of services of palliative care in Pakistan. International guidelines have questionable applicability in Pakistan due to the socioeconomic differences. We generated a protocol describing the process of developing comprehensive palliative care guidelines and palliative care referral pathways for primary care practitioners to adopt in Pakistan.

METHODS

A GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach with modification has been employed to create guidelines for a Pakistani context. The "National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines Insights: Palliative Care, Version 2.2021" was used as the source guideline. Recommendations from the source guideline were reviewed by two local palliative care specialists to either "Adopt," "Adapt" or "Exclude". The finalized recommendations were incorporated into the local palliative care guideline. Clinical diagnosis and referral pathways were made from the finalized guideline. Any gaps in management found in the pathways were filled by taking existing recommendations from other credible guidelines.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven recommendations were adopted without modification. No recommendations were deemed to be adapted and 15 were excluded. The referral care pathways created were reflective of the local guideline and included elements of initial assessment, preliminary management, reassessment, and referral. 6 additional recommendations were made.

CONCLUSION

The described clinical practice guidelines and primary care clinical referral pathways will aid to standardize palliative care provision in Pakistan. These can be used by other resource constrained settings to develop guidelines within their own local context.

Observational study of survival outcomes of people referred for 'fast-track' end-of-life care funding in a district general hospital: too little too late?

BACKGROUND

End-of-life care requires support for people to die where they feel safe and well-cared for. End-of-life care may require funding to support dying outside of hospital. In England, funding is procured through Continuing Healthcare Fast-Track funding, requiring assessment to determine eligibility. Anecdotal evidence suggested that Fast-Track funding applications were deferred where clinicians thought this inappropriate due to limited life-expectancy.

AIM

To evaluate overall survival after Fast-Track funding application.

DESIGN

Prospective evaluation of Fast-Track funding application outcomes and survival.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

All people in 2021 who had a Fast-Track funding application from a medium-sized district general hospital in Southwest England.

RESULTS

439 people were referred for Fast-Track funding with a median age of 80 years (range 31-100 years). 413/439 (94.1%) died during follow-up, with a median survival of 15 days (range 0-436 days). Median survival for people with Fast-Track funding approved or deferred was 18 days and 25 days, respectively (p=0.0013). 129 people (29.4%) died before discharge (median survival 4 days) and only 7.5% were still alive 90 days after referral for Fast-Track funding.

CONCLUSIONS

Fast-Track funding applications were deferred for those with very limited life-expectancy, with minimal clinical difference in survival (7 days) compared with those who had applications approved. This is likely to delay discharge to the preferred place of death and reduce quality of end-of-life care. A blanket acceptance of Fast-Track funding applications, with review for those still alive after 60 days, may improve end-of-life care and be more efficient for the healthcare system.

Continuity in palliative care - analysis of intersectoral palliative care based on routine data of a statutory health insurance

Background

The goal of palliative care is to prevent and alleviate a suffering of incurable ill patients. A continuous intersectoral palliative care is important. The aim of this study is to analyse the continuity of palliative care, particularly the time gaps between hospital discharge and subsequent palliative care as well as the timing of the last palliative care before the patient’s death.

Methods

The analysis was based on claims data from a large statutory health insurance. Patients who received their first palliative care in 2015 were included. The course of palliative care was followed for 12 months. Time intervals between discharge from hospital and first subsequent palliative care as well as between last palliative care and death were analysed. The continuity in palliative care was defined as an interval of less than 14 days between palliative care. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square.

Results

In 2015, 4177 patients with first palliative care were identified in the catchment area of the statutory health insurance. After general inpatient palliative care, 415 patients were transferred to subsequent palliative care, of these 67.7% (n = 281) received subsequent care within 14 days. After a stay in a palliative care ward, 124 patients received subsequent palliative care, of these 75.0% (n = 93) within 14 days. Altogether, 147 discharges did not receive subsequent palliative care. During the 12-months follow-up period, 2866 (68.7%) patients died, of these 78.7% (n = 2256) received palliative care within the last 2 weeks of life. Of these, 1223 patients received general ambulatory palliative care, 631 patients received specialised ambulatory palliative care, 313 patients received their last palliative care at a hospital and 89 patients received it in a hospice.

Conclusions

The majority of the palliative care patients received continuous palliative care. However, there are some patients who did not receive continuous palliative care. After inpatient palliative care, each patient should receive a discharge management for a continuation of palliative care. Readmissions of patients after discharge from inpatients palliative care can be an indication for a lack of support in the ambulatory health care setting and for an insufficient discharge management. Palliative care training and possibilities for palliative care consultations by specialists should strengthen the GPs in palliative care.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-021-00751-0.

Delivery of Palliative Care in Acute Care Hospitals: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study Describing the Level of Involvement and Timing of Inpatient Palliative Care in the Last Year of Life

Background: Much end-of-life care is provided in hospital, yet little is known about the delivery of palliative care during end-of-life hospitalizations. Objectives: To characterize the level of palliative care involvement across hospitalizations in the last year of life. Methods: A population-based retrospective cohort study of adults in Ontario, Canada, who died between April 1, 2012, and March 31, 2017, and had at least one acute care hospitalization in their last year of life. Using linked administrative health data, we developed a hierarchy of inpatient palliative care involvement reflecting the degree to which care was delivered with palliative intent. This hierarchy was based on palliative care diagnosis and service provider codes on hospitalization records and physician claims. We examined variations in the level of palliative care involvement across key patient characteristics. Results: In the last year of life, 65.1% of hospitalizations had no indication of palliative care involvement, 16.7% had a low level of involvement, 13.5% had a medium level of involvement, and 4.7% had a high level of involvement. Most hospitalizations with palliative care involvement (85.6%) occurred in the two months before death. Compared to patients who received no inpatient palliative care, patients who received a high level of palliative care involvement tended to be younger, died of cancer, resided in urban or lower income neighborhoods, and had fewer chronic conditions. Discussion: While many hospitalizations occurred in the last year of life, the majority did not involve palliative care, and very few had a high level of palliative care involvement.

'. . . and then no more kisses!' Exploring patients' experiences on multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms and hygiene measures in end-of-life care A mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

In end-of-life care hygiene, measures concerning multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms may contradict the palliative care approach of social inclusion and be burdensome for patients.

OBJECTIVES

To integrate patients' perspectives on handling multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms at their end of life, their quality of life, the impact of positive multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms' diagnosis, protection and isolation measures on their well-being and patients' wishes and needs regarding their care.

DESIGN

A mixed-methods convergent parallel design embedded quantitative data on the patients' multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms' trajectory and quality of life assessed by the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life in qualitative data collection via interviews and focus groups. Data analysis was performed according to Grounded Theory and qualitative and quantitative results were interrelated.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Between March 2014 and September 2015 at two hospitals adult patients diagnosed with multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms and treated in a palliative care department or a geriatric ward were included in the sample group.

RESULTS

Patients in end-of-life and geriatric care reported emotional and social impact through multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms' diagnosis itself, hygiene measures and lack of information. This impact affects aspects relevant to the patients' quality of life. Patients' wishes for comprehensive communication/information and reduction of social strain were identified from the focus group discussion.

CONCLUSION

Patients would benefit from comprehensible information on multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms. Strategies minimizing social exclusion and emotional impact of multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms' diagnosis in end-of-life care are needed as well as adaption or supplementation of standard multidrug-resistant bacterial microorganisms' policies of hospitals.

Does inpatient palliative care consultation impact outcomes following hospital discharge? A narrative systematic review

BACKGROUND

While most patients desire to die at home or in a community-based hospice, the transition from hospital to community settings often lacks streamlined coordination of care to ensure that adequate support is provided in the preferred care setting. The impact of hospital-based palliative care consultations on post-discharge care and outcomes has not been extensively studied.

AIM

The aim of this study was to appraise available research on the impact of inpatient palliative care consultations on transitions from hospital to community settings.

DESIGN

We conducted a narrative systematic review and used the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool to appraise the quality of selected studies. Studies were included if they assessed the transition from hospital to community and examined outcomes after an inpatient palliative care consultation. A protocol for this study was registered and published in PROSPERO, Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (ID: CRD42018094924).

DATA SOURCES

We searched for quantitative studies indexed in PubMED, CINAHL and Cochrane and published between 1 January 1 2000 and 11 March 2018.

RESULTS

Our search retrieved 2749 articles. From these, 123 articles were full-text screened and 15 studies met our inclusion criteria. Studies reported that inpatient palliative care consultations are associated with high rates of discharge to community settings, greater provision of services post-discharge, improved coordination and lower rates of rehospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Existing evidence suggest that inpatient palliative care consultations have a positive impact on patient outcomes and transitions to the community, demonstrating the potential to improve patient quality of life and relieve overburdened acute care systems.

Factors Influencing Clinical and Setting Pathways After Discharge From an Acute Palliative/Supportive Care Unit

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the factors which influence the care pathway after discharge from an acute palliative supportive care unit (APSCU).

METHODS

Patients' demographics, indications for admission, kind of admission, the presence of a caregiver, awareness of prognosis, data on anticancer treatments in the last 30 days, ongoing treatment (on/off or uncertain), the previous care setting, analgesic consumption, and duration of admission were recorded. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) at admission and at time of discharge (or the day before death), CAGE (cut down, annoy, guilt, eye-opener), and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS), were used. At time of discharge, the subsequent referral to other care settings (death, home, home care, hospice, oncology), and the pathway of oncologic treatment were reconsidered (on/off, uncertain).

RESULTS

A total of 314 consecutive cancer patients admitted to the APSCU were surveyed. Factors independently associated with on-therapy were the lack of a caregiver, home discharge, and short hospital admission, in comparison with off-treatment, and less admission for other symptoms, shorter hospital admission, discharge at home, and better well-being, when compared with "uncertain." Similarly, many factors were associated with discharge setting, but the only factor independently associated with discharge home was being "on-therapy."

CONCLUSIONS

The finding of this study is consistent with an appropriate selection of patients after being discharged by an APSCU, that works as a bridge between active treatments and supportive/palliative care, according the concept of early and simultaneous care.

Identifying the need for specialized palliative care in adult cancer patients - development and validation of a screening procedure based on proxy assessment by physicians and filter questions

Background

One challenge in caring for cancer patients with incurable disease is the adequate identification of those in need for specialized palliative care (SPC). The study’s aim was to validate an easy to use phenomenological screening tool.

Methods

The German tool is based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Palliative Care guidelines and contains ten items in five domains that focus e.g. on diagnosis, functional status, complications, comorbidities, and palliative care relevant problems such as symptom management, distress, and support of family and team members. Sum score ranges from 0 to 14 (no need to great need). Assessment to identify SPC needs was done in university hospital wards between 1 and 08/2017 by health care professionals on admission of the patient if the disease was incurable and expected prognosis < 12 months. The Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale (IPOS, staff version), an outcome assessment instrument for palliative care that consists of ten items, served as external criterion; in sub samples inter-rater/test-retest were performed.

Results

Data from 208 patients with incurable disease and life expectancy < 12 months (54.8% female; average age 63.5 years, range 21–96) were assessed using the tool. The tool has good convergent validity; the correlation between the sum scores of IPOS and our tool showed a significant and substantial effect. The sum score was independent of the patient’s age, gender and primary diagnosis. Patients who already were in contact with SPC had significantly higher screening scores than patients without. With a cut point of  ≥ 5, 80.8% of the screened patients were in need for SPC. Cronbach’s alpha was α = .600. Rater agreement (inter-rater, test-retest) varied between single items. Correlation coefficients showed significant substantial effects.

Conclusions

This is the first validation of a screening procedure in German language identifying SPC needs of adult patients with advanced cancer and the first using filter questions as a pre-screening. Proxy assessment of SPC needs by physicians in cancer care settings is feasible and the suggested tool presents a valid instrument to trigger a PC consultation.

Trial registration

The study was not registered.

A scoping review of research to assess the frequency, types, and reasons for end-of-life care setting transitions

Aims: Most people approaching the end of life develop care needs, which typically change over time. Moves between care settings may be required as health deteriorates. However, in some cases, care setting transitions may have little to do with end-of-life care needs and instead reflect the needs, demands, availability, or funding provisions of the country or funding body and organizations providing care. This paper is a scoping review of the international peer-reviewed research literature to gain evidence on the frequency and types of end-of-life care setting transitions, and the reasons for these moves. Methods: All relevant print and open access research articles published in 2000+ were sought using the Directory of Open Access Journals and EBSCO Discovery Host. Results: A total of 39 research articles were identified and reviewed. However, minimal useful evidence was revealed. Most articles focused solely on hospital admissions near death, and some focused on nursing home admissions, with other moves infrequently studied. Conclusions: This review demonstrates the need to quantify and justify end-of-life care setting transitions as it appears dying people are frequently moved, often as death nears. This research is needed to distinguish transitions related to end-of-life care needs and those arising from pressures on or from care providers and others unrelated to the person's care needs.

Last Year of Life Study Cologne (LYOL-C): protocol for a cross-sectional mixed methods study to examine care trajectories and transitions in the last year of life until death

INTRODUCTION

The last year of life constitutes a particularly vulnerable phase for patients, involving nearly all health and social care structures. Yet, little scientific evidence is available that provides insight into the trajectories including the number and types of care setting transitions, transitions into palliative care and the dying phase. Only few studies have focused on difficulties associated with having to move between health and social care settings in the last year of life, although patients face a significant risk of adverse events. The Last Year of Life Study Cologne (LYOL-C) aims to fill this gap.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

LYOL-C is a mixed-methods study composed of four steps: (1) Claims data collected by the statutory health insurance funds of deceased persons will be analysed with regard to patient care trajectories, health service transitions and costs in the last year of life. (2) Patient trajectories and transitions in healthcare will additionally be reconstructed by analysing the retrospective accounts of bereaved relatives (n=400) using a culturally adapted version of the Views of Informal Carers-Evaluation of Services Short Form questionnaire and the Patient Assessment of Care for Chronic Conditions Short Form questionnaire adapted for relatives. (3) Qualitative interviews with bereaved relatives (n=40-60) will provide in-depth insight into reasons for transitions and effects on patients' quality of life. (4) Focus groups (n=3-5) with Healthcare Professionals will be conducted to discuss challenges associated with transitions in the last year of life.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Commission of the Faculty of Medicine of Cologne University (#17-188). Results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at national and international conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

The study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00011925) and in the Health Services Research Database (VfD_CoRe-Net_17_003806).

The '6W' multidimensional model of care trajectories for patients with chronic ambulatory care sensitive conditions and hospital readmissions

OBJECTIVES

To synthesize concepts and approaches related to the analysis of patterns or processes of care and patient's outcomes into a comprehensive model of care trajectories, focusing on hospital readmissions for patients with chronic ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs).

STUDY DESIGN

Narrative literature review.

METHODS

Published studies between January 2000 and November 2017, using the concepts of 'continuity', 'pathway', 'episode', and 'trajectory', and focused on readmissions and chronic ACSCs, were collected in electronic databases. Qualitative content analysis was performed with emphasis on key constituents to build a comprehensive model.

RESULTS

Specific common constituents are shared by the concepts reviewed: they focus on the patient, aim to measure and improve outcomes, follow specific periods of time and consider other factors related to care providers, care units, care settings, and treatments. Using these common denominators, the comprehensive '6W' multidimensional model of care trajectories was created. Considering patients' attributes and their chronic ACSCs illness course ('who' and 'why' dimensions), this model reflects their patterns of health care use across care providers ('which'), care units ('where'), and treatments ('what'), at specific periods of time ('when').

CONCLUSIONS

The '6W' model of care trajectories could provide valuable information on 'missed opportunities' to reduce readmission rates and improve quality of both ambulatory and inpatient care.

Moving from place to place in the last year of life: A qualitative study identifying care setting transition issues and solutions in Ontario

Moving from one care setting to another is common as death nears. Many concerns exist over these end-of-life (EOL) care setting transitions, including low-quality moves as mistakes and other mishaps can occur. Delayed or denied moves are also problematic, such as a move out of hospital for dying inpatients who want to spend their last hours or days at home. The aim of the study was to identify current issues or problems with care setting transitions during the last year of life as well as potential or actual solutions for these problems. A grounded theory analysis approach was used based on interviews with 38 key informants who represent a wide range of healthcare providers, healthcare managers, government representatives, lawyers, healthcare recipients and their family/friends across Ontario in 2016. Three interrelated themes were revealed: (a) communication complexities, (b) care planning and coordination gaps and (c) health system reform needs. Six solutions were highlighted, with these designed to prevent care setting transition issues and monitor care setting transitions for continued improvements.

Nursing home care trajectories for older adults following in-hospital palliative care consultation

Palliative care consultation (PCC) during hospitalization is increasingly common for older adults with life-limiting illness discharged to nursing homes. The objective of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe the care trajectories and experiences of older adults admitted to a nursing home following a PCC during hospitalization. Twelve English-speaking adults, mean age 80 years, who received a hospital PCC and discharge to a nursing home without hospice. Data were collected from medical records at five time points from hospital discharge to 100 days after nursing home admission and care trajectories were mapped. Interviews (n = 15) with participants and surrogates were combined with each participant's medical record data. Content analysis was employed on the combined dataset. All PCC referrals were for goals of care conversations during which the PCC team discussed poor prognosis. All participants were admitted to a nursing home under the Medicare skilled nursing facility benefit. Seven were rehospitalized; six of the 12 died within 6 weeks of initial nursing home admission. The two care trajectories were Focus on Rehabilitative Care and Comfort Care Continuity. There was a heavy emphasis on recovering functional status through rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, despite considerable symptom burden and poor prognosis. Regardless of PCC with recommendations for palliative interventions, frail older adults with limited life expectancy and their family caregivers often perceive that rehabilitation will improve physical function. This perception may contribute to inappropriate, ineffective care. More emphasis is needed to coordinate care between PCC recommendations and post-acute care.

Hospital Palliative Care Teams and Post-Acute Care in Nursing Facilities: An Integrative Review

Although palliative care consultation teams are common in U.S. hospitals, follow up and outcomes of consultations for frail older adults discharged to nursing facilities are unclear. To summarize and critique research on the care of patients discharged to nursing facilities following a hospital-based palliative care consult, a systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Ageline, and PsycINFO was conducted in February 2016. Data from the articles (N = 12) were abstracted and analyzed. The results of 12 articles reflecting research conducted in five countries are presented in narrative form. Two studies focused on nurse perceptions only, three described patient/family/caregiver experiences and needs, and seven described patient-focused outcomes. Collectively, these articles demonstrate that disruption in palliative care service on hospital discharge and nursing facility admission may result in high symptom burden, poor communication, and inadequate coordination of care. High mortality was also noted. [Res Gerontol Nurs. 2017; 10(1):25-34.].