Systematic Review of Palliative Care in the Rural Setting

Integration of Community Health Workers into Palliative Care Teams: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Rural communities, like other places in the United States, face a growing need for palliative care. Community health workers (CHWs) are one potential way to expand the ability to provide palliative care. This scoping review explores what is known about CHWs involved in palliative care teams in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review is intended to outline current evidence related to best practices and factors that lead to the integration of CHWs into palliative care teams.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted between June 2022 and April 2023 using 3 databases (CIHAHL, ScienceDirect, and PubMed) to identify included studies. Studies included were published between 2000 and 2022; discussed CHWs, lay health navigators, or associated terms, and palliative care in the United States; and addressed CHWs' integration with health care teams.

RESULTS

The 24 studies included in this review encompassed qualitative and quantitative reports of CHW interventions that successfully increased advanced care planning documentation, improved patient symptoms, and increased hospice use. Home visits and telephone visits allowed CHWs to provide education, advocate, make referrals, and serve as social support. Stakeholders generally support the role of CHWs in palliative care teams and understand the way they can support "cultural translation."

CONCLUSIONS

CHWs have the potential to be integrated into palliative care teams, but there is variability in the approach toward roles within palliative care teams, training for CHWs, and strategies for integration within clinical teams.

Telehealth-facilitated palliative care enables more people to die at home: An analysis of clinical outcomes and service activity data

BACKGROUND

Telehealth-facilitated models of palliative care are a patient-focused way to deliver specialist care in or closer to home for people with a life-limiting illness. Telehealth can increase access to palliative care and support people experiencing symptoms of advanced disease in their own home, reducing the discomfort of travel. This retrospective cohort study examines the activity and outcomes of a regional telehealth-facilitated palliative care service to (i) describe which patients are most likely to use telehealth; and (ii) explore possible impacts of telehealth on patient outcomes including place of death, timely access to care, responsiveness to urgent needs and pain management.

METHODS

Analysis of service activity data (patient demographics, care modality, consultation frequency) and Palliative Care Outcomes Collaborative data registry (place of death, timely access to palliative care, responsiveness to urgent needs as measured by time in unstable phase, pain management) were undertaken. Outcomes were compared between patients who had no videoconsultations (n = 683) and those who had one or more videoconsultations (n = 524).

RESULTS

Compared to people who had no videoconsultations, those who had at least one appointment via video were: more than twice as likely to die at home and spent a shorter amount of time in the unstable phase of palliation. Mixed results were found regarding timely access to palliative care. There was no significant difference in pain management between consultation modes.

CONCLUSION

Telehealth-facilitated palliative care has multiple benefits, including the increased likelihood of fulfilling someone's wish to die at home, often their preferred place of death.

A state-of-the-art review of community-based palliative care services in rural areas of Southern Minnesota and the United States

BACKGROUND

This state-of-the-art (SOTA) review aimed to understand the historical, current and future of rural community palliative care services (PCS) with a primary focus in rural southern Minnesota communities and the United States.

METHODS

This review followed the six step SOTA systematic review process described by Barry et al (2022) and examined articles from 2010-2023 regarding rural PCS.

RESULTS

Historical and current research consistently supported the benefits of PCS and reported the top facilitators as a clear definition of palliative care and PCS. The top barriers included a lack service provision, funding/resources, national policies/regulation, and shortages of trained providers in rural communities.

CONCLUSIONS

Barriers to the provision of PCS have not improved based on this review in rural areas and must be addressed to reduce healthcare disparities for rural populations.

Patient and family perspectives on rural palliative care models: A systematic review and meta-synthesis

BACKGROUND

Almost half the world's population lives in rural areas. How best to provide palliative care to rural populations is unclear. Privileging rural patient and family voices about their experiences of receiving care delivered via rural palliative care models is necessary.

AIM

To identify the key palliative care elements that rural patients with palliative care needs and their families perceive to be critical to receiving the care and support they need to live well.

DESIGN AND DATA SOURCES

A systematic review and meta-synthesis registered with Prospero (CRD42020154273). Three databases were searched in June 2024. Raw qualitative data were extracted and analysed using Thomas and Harden's three-stage thematic synthesis methodology. Findings reported according to the PRISMA statement.

RESULTS

Of the 10,834 identified papers, 11 met the inclusion criteria. Meta-synthesis of extracted, raw quotes (n = 209) revealed three major themes: (1) Honouring the patient's existing relationship with their General Practitioner (GP); (2) strategically timed access to specialist services, clinicians and equipment is critical; and (3) a need to feel safe, prepared and supported.

CONCLUSION

The strategic inclusion of specialists alongside primary care providers is integral to optimising rural palliative care models. General Practioners are central to these models, through being embedded in their communities and as the conduit to specialist palliative care services. Rural palliative care patients and families value responsive care, trajectory signposting, effective communication, 24/7 support and recognise the value of virtual health. Globally, positive public policy and funding is critical to ensuring access to GP-led, specialist-supported, rural palliative care models.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Clinicians Should Know About Rural Palliative Care in the United States

Palliative care improves outcomes, yet rural residents often lack adequate and equitable access. This study provides practical tips to address palliative care (PC)-related challenges in rural communities. Strategies include engaging trusted community partners, addressing cultural factors, improving pediatric care, utilizing telehealth, networking with rural teams including caregivers, and expanding roles for nurses and advanced practice providers. Despite complex barriers to access, providers can tailor PC to be patient-centered, respect local values, and bridge gaps. The "Top 10" format emphasizes the relevant issues to enable clinicians to provide optimal care for people from rural areas.

Service Provider Perspectives on Advance Care Planning Use in Rural Dementia Patients and Caregivers: A Qualitative Study

Advanced care planning (ACP) utilization remains very limited in rural communities compared to urban areas. ACP earlier in the disease trajectory is particularly important for people with dementia (PWD) due to its progressive nature affecting their decision-making ability. Considering the well-documented benefits of ACP in improving the quality of end-of-life (EOL) care, the rural vs. urban disparity may indicate poorer EOL quality for rural PWD. This study aimed to explore barriers and current resources for ACP of PWD from the perspectives of health or social service providers serving rural communities. Using a qualitative approach, semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 11 health or social service professionals serving older adults and their caregivers in rural Alabama. Thematic analysis revealed three major barriers: (1) lack of knowledge, (2) psychosocial barriers, and (3) limited access to healthcare. Participants also showed misconception that a lawyer or a notary is required for ACP. Two themes arose in the participants' recommendations to address the barriers: (1) providing ACP-relevant information and (2) addressing psychosocial stressors about ACP. This study highlighted an urgent need for social policy in ACP education for caregivers and service providers in rural settings.

Palliative Care in Rural Communities

ABSTRACT

Rural communities in the United States are frequently marginalized and misrepresented. These communities face unique challenges, such as limited access to health care, nutritious food, and clean water, that contribute to persistent health disparities. This article presents the CARE (Complex, Access, Resourceful, Extraordinary) framework, which illustrates the dichotomy of rurality-its negative and positive aspects-in order to inform the development of palliative care delivery in rural settings. Various palliative care models are described that address access gaps, bolster provider capacity, and increase the provision of specialty palliative care. However, workforce shortages and reimbursement structures restrict the expansion of these services. Nurses, the largest segment of the health care workforce and the most trusted professionals, must partner with interdisciplinary colleagues and rural communities to advocate for equitable and inclusive care.

Cross-sectional study to evaluate patients' medication management with a new model of care: incorporating a pharmacist into a community specialist palliative care telehealth service

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving palliative care are often on complex medication regimes to manage their symptoms and comorbidities and at high risk of medication-related problems. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the involvement of a pharmacist to an existing community specialist palliative care telehealth service on patients' medication management.

METHOD

The specialist palliative care pharmacist attended two palliative care telehealth sessions per week over a six-month period (October 2020 to March 2021). Attendance was allocated based on funding received. Data collected from the medication management reviews included prevalence of polypharmacy, number of inappropriate medication according to the Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions in Frail adults with limited life expectancy criteria (STOPP/FRAIL) and recommendations on deprescribing, symptom control and medication management.

RESULTS

In total 95 patients participated in the pharmaceutical telehealth service with a mean age of 75.2 years (SD 10.67). Whilst 81 (85.3%) patients had a cancer diagnosis, 14 (14.7%) had a non-cancer diagnosis. At referral, 84 (88.4%, SD 4.57) patients were taking ≥ 5 medications with 51 (53.7%, SD 5.03) taking ≥ 10 medications. According to STOPP/FRAIL criteria, 142 potentially inappropriate medications were taken by 54 (56.8%) patients, with a mean of 2.6 (SD 1.16) inappropriate medications per person. Overall, 142 recommendations were accepted from the pharmaceutical medication management review including 49 (34.5%) related to deprescribing, 20 (14.0%) to medication-related problems, 35 (24.7%) to symptom management and 38 (26.8%) to medication administration.

CONCLUSION

This study provided evidence regarding the value of including a pharmacist in palliative care telehealth services. Input from the pharmacist resulted in improved symptom management of community palliative care patients and their overall medication management.

Cultural Values Influence on Rural Family Caregivers' Decision-Making for Ill Older Adult Loved Ones

CONTEXT

Rural older adult Americans receive more intense treatment at end of life. Studies indicate that those who participate in goals of care conversations receive care more concordant with their values. Yet, rates of documented goals of care discussions are lower in rural and Black communities. Although multi-factorial, the role that rural family caregivers (FCGs) play in decision-making for ill loved ones is understudied.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to explore rural FCGs cultural values, beliefs, and attitudes about serious illness and treatment decision-making and to understand how these factors influence their decision-making around goals of care for their family members.

METHODS

This is an embedded qualitative study within a tele-palliative care consult randomized trial that the PEN-3 theoretical model guided. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with FCGs who had completed study participation. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Twelve rural FCGs center their decisions around core values, and the decision-making experience was supported by faith. A model of how the key themes and subthemes interact around the central space of supporting the seriously ill loved to demonstrate the complexity of caregiving when race and rurality intersect is presented.

CONCLUSION

This study is a foundational step in understanding how rural FCGs beliefs and values influence decision-making. We recommend incorporating those constructs into the development of culturally responsive decision-support interventions.

Tools for tomorrow: a scoping review of patient-facing tools for advance care planning

Advance care planning (ACP) supports individuals in aligning their medical care with personal values and preferences in the face of serious illness. The variety of ACP tools available reflects diverse strategies intended to facilitate these critical conversations, yet evaluations of their effectiveness often show mixed results. Following the Arskey and O'Malley framework, this scoping review aims to synthesize the range of ACP tools targeted at patients and families, highlighting their characteristics and delivery methods to better understand their impact and development over time. Studies included focused on patient-facing ACP tools across all settings and mediums. Exclusions were applied to studies solely targeting healthcare providers or those only aiming at completion of advance directives without broader ACP discussions. Searches were conducted across PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Data were extracted using a predesigned spreadsheet, capturing study population, setting, intervention modality, and intervention theme. Tools were categorized by delivery method and further analyzed through a year-wise distribution to track trends and developments. We identified 99 unique patient-facing tools, with those focusing on counseling (31) and video technologies (21) being the most prevalent while others incorporated online platforms, print materials, games, or some combination of different delivery methods. Over half the tools were designed for specific patient groups, especially for various diseases and racial or ethnic communities. Recent years showed a surge in tool variety and innovation, including integrated patient portals and psychological techniques. The review demonstrates a broad array of innovative ACP tools that facilitate personalized and effective ACP. Our findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of their utilization and potential impacts, offering valuable insights for future tool development and policy making in ACP.

Perceptions of Palliative Care: Demographics and Health Status Among the General Population in Florida and the United States

BACKGROUND

Palliative care (PC) helps maintain quality of life for seriously ill patients, yet, many Americans lack knowledge of PC.

AIM

To explore the relationships between knowledge of PC of individuals living in north-central Florida and throughout the United States.

DESIGN

This cross-sectional survey with three sampling approaches, one was a community-engaged sample and two were panel respondent samples. Respondents and setting: Respondents of the Florida sample (n1 = 329) and the community-engaged sample (n2 = 100), were representative of the 23 Florida county general population. Respondents of the national sample (n = 1800) were adult members of a panel owned by a cloud-based survey platform.

RESULTS

Young adults compared with adults (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.14-2.28, P .007), middle-adults (OR 2.47, 95% CI 1.58-3.92, P < .001) and older-adults (OR 3.75, 95% CI 2.50-5.67, P < .001) were less likely to agree that the goal of PC is to help friends and family cope with a patient's illness, and that the goal of PC is to manage pain and other physical symptoms compared with adults (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.20-2.30, P .002) middle-adults (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.71-3.95, P < .001) and older-adults (OR 7.19, 95% CI 4.68-11.2, P < .001). Participants with greater rural identity (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.31-1.48, P < .001) were more likely to agree that accepting PC means giving up.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased knowledge of PC might be influenced through targeting educational interventions and educating the general population through social media use.

Palliative care needs and preferences of older adults with advanced or serious chronic illnesses and their families in rural communities of Indiana, USA

PURPOSE

To explore the palliative care needs and preferences of older adults with advanced or serious chronic illnesses and their families. Also, to propose strategies to promote supportive palliative care in the rural communities of Indiana, USA.

METHOD

We conducted qualitative interviews to gather rural caregivers' experiences of palliative care. Recruitment was done in collaboration with community partners using social media, flyers, emails, invitations, and word-of-mouth. A purposive sample of family caregivers was obtained. All the interviews were conducted online. The average interview was 30-45 minutes. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

FINDINGS

Our findings showed 6 major themes that indicated several palliative care needs and preferences of older patients and their families in rural communities that include: (1) difficulties in pain and symptom burden; (2) perceived discrimination and lack of trust; (3) longer distances to care facilities; (4) difficult conversations; (5) caregiving burden; and (6) use of telehealth in a rural palliative care context.

CONCLUSION

Rural family caregivers experience several social inequities and disparities causing a lack of access to and low utilization of palliative care. All these disparities cause several challenges for patients and their families trying to manage serious illnesses and die in place with peace and comfort. Inadequate access and lack of resources cause pain and distress for both patients and their families. Provider education and trainings, initiating early palliative care models, integrating behavioral health in palliative care, and using culturally congruent care delivery approaches in support of community partners can improve palliative care services in rural communities.

Implementing the European code of cancer practice in rural settings

Existing evidence often indicates higher cancer incidence and mortality rates, later diagnosis, lower screening uptake and poorer long-term survival for people living in rural compared to more urbanised areas. Despite wide inequities and variation in cancer care and outcomes across Europe, much of the scientific literature explicitly exploring the impact of rurality on cancer continues to come from Australia and North America. The European Code of Cancer Practice or "The Code" is a citizen and patient-centred statement of the most salient requirements for good clinical cancer practice and has been extensively co-produced by cancer patients, cancer professionals and patient advocates. It contains 10 key overarching Rights that a cancer patient should expect from their healthcare system, regardless of where they live and has been strongly endorsed by professional and patient cancer organisations as well as the European Commission. In this article, we use these 10 fundamental Rights as a framework to argue that (i) the issues and needs identified in The Code are generally more profound for rural people with cancer; (ii) addressing these issues is also more challenging in rural contexts; (iii) interventions and support must explicitly account for the unique needs of rural residents living with and affected by cancer and (iv) new innovative approaches are urgently required to successfully overcome the challenges faced by rural people with cancer and their caregivers. Despite equitable healthcare being a key European policy focus, the needs of rural people living with cancer have largely been neglected.

Analysis of a telephone hotline for palliative care patients at home and their families

BACKGROUND

To describe the use of a telephone consultation (TC) hotline for palliative care (PC) patients and their families at home provided by a PC service, during the COVID-19 lockdown.

METHODS

Observational and cross-sectional study of a TC hotline performed by a PC service from 1 January to 31 December 2020. Data was collected through a record sheet completed during the call. Descriptive analyses were performed using the SPSS software (V.21 for Windows).

RESULTS

A total of 494 calls were retrieved (n=187 patients; 6500 minutes recorded). Compared to 2019, incoming calls increased 33.8%. Most callers were a family member (n=419) or a community health worker (n= 60). The peak of calls was registered in April (13.5%), May (13.2%) and October (15.0%). Main problems included uncontrolled symptoms (81.9%), need for medication (8.6%), information (4.8%) and consultation rescheduling (2.6%). In 81.9% of the cases, the call occurred during a crisis. The PC team solved 92.9% of the problems. Only 20 patients were admitted in the emergency department (this was 30.5% less compared to 2019).

CONCLUSIONS

The TC is a feasible alternative to traditional in-person follow-ups. Callers considered it very useful, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown. Communication was improved and admissions to emergency services were reduced.

Evidence-based models of rural palliative care: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Forty-five percent of the world's population lives in rural areas, yet their access to palliative care is quite limited. Identifying the care elements rural populations with palliative care needs require is critical to improving care outcomes.

AIM

To identify the key care elements that optimise palliative care for people in rural communities.

DESIGN AND DATA SOURCES

A systematic review of articles studying the impact of novel rural model of care interventions was undertaken in May 2022. This study is reported using the PRISMA Statement and was registered with Prospero (CRD42020154273). Three databases were searched, and the data analysed according to Popay's narrative synthesis, and elements classified using the WHO Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions (ICCC) Framework.

RESULTS

Of the 9508 identified papers, 15 met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 14 studies involving 1820 rural patients. Care received spanned 12/18 of the WHO ICCC Framework elements, with wide variability in how these elements were operationalised. The five elements that signal improved outcomes were: (1) Promote continuity and coordination; (2) Prepared, informed and motivated health care teams; (3) Prepared, informed and motivated patients and families; (4) Organise and equip health care teams and (5) Promote consistent financing.

CONCLUSIONS

A well-coordinated multidisciplinary team approach, led by clinicians with specialist palliative care expertise, integrated across local health care settings, using information systems and care planning, is critical to optimising rural palliative care patient outcomes. Rural patients and their families require timely input from specialist palliative care clinicians and information to address their needs.Prospero registration ID: CRD42020154273 https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=154273.

Telehealth palliative care interventions for patients with advanced cancer: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Telehealth allows patients to maintain contact with healthcare providers without necessitating travel, and is becoming increasingly utilized. The purpose of this study is to describe the components of telehealth palliative care interventions for patients with advanced cancer before the COVID-19 pandemic; identify any intervention components associated with improvements in outcomes; and evaluate reporting of interventions.

METHODS

This scoping review was registered on the Open Science Framework. We searched 5 medical databases from inception to June 19, 2020. Inclusion criteria were: age ≥ 18, advanced cancer, asynchronous or synchronous telehealth intervention, and specialized palliative care interventions in any setting. We assessed the quality of intervention reporting using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist.

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria: 15 (65%) quantitative (7 randomized controlled trials, 5 feasibility trials, 3 retrospective chart reviews); 4 (17%) mixed methods, and 4 (17%) qualitative. Most quantitative and mixed methods studies were conducted in North America (12/19, 63%), reported on hybrid (in-person and telehealth) interventions (9/19, 47%), and were delivered by nurses (12/19, 63%) in the home setting (14/19, 74%). In most studies that reported improvements in patient- or caregiver-reported outcomes, the content was psychoeducational and resulted in improvements for psychological symptoms. No study provided complete reporting on all 12 TIDieR checklist items.

CONCLUSION

Telehealth studies are needed that reflect palliative care's mission to provide multidisciplinary team-based care that improves quality of life in diverse settings, and that provide detailed reporting of interventions.

Association of rurality with utilization of palliative care and hospice among Medicare beneficiaries who died from pancreatic cancer: A cohort study

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer has a 5-year survival of just 10%. Services such as palliative care and hospice are thus crucial in this population, yet their geographic accessibility and utilization remains unknown.

AIM

We studied the association between rurality of patient residence and the use of palliative care and hospice.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Cohort study of continuously enrolled fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥65 diagnosed with incident pancreatic cancer between 04/01/2016-08/31/2018 and who died by 12/31/2018.

RESULTS

In this decedent cohort of 31,460 patients, 77% lived in metropolitan areas, 11% in micropolitan areas, 7% in small towns, and 5% in rural areas. Patient demographics were largely similar across rurality; however, the proportion of White, non-Hispanic patients and social deprivation was highest in rural areas and lowest in metropolitan areas. Overall, 33% of patients used any palliative care and 77% received hospice services. After risk adjustment, there were no statistically significant differences in the use of palliative care for patients residing in metropolitan versus micropolitan, small town, or rural areas. Patients in small town (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.69-0.86) and rural areas (OR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.66-0.85) had lower adjusted odds of receiving hospice care compared to patients in metropolitan areas.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of palliative care services captured in Medicare was low, representing either underutilization or failure to accurately measure the extent of services used. While the overall level of hospice enrollment was high, patients in rural communities had relatively lower use of hospice services compared to those in metropolitan areas.

Community Informed Recruitment: A Promising Method to Enhance Clinical Trial Participation

CONTEXT

Low recruitment rates in palliative care clinical trials amongst Black and rural individuals have been attributed to lack of trust and procedural barriers. Community engagement strategies have increased clinical trial participation of under-represented populations.

OBJECTIVE

Describe a successful community-engaged recruitment strategy in an ongoing multi-site randomized clinical trial (RCT).

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Using community-based participatory research principles and input from a prior pilot study's community advisory group (CAG), we designed a novel recruitment strategy for Community Tele-Pal, a three-site, culturally based palliative care tele-consult RCT for Black and White seriously ill inpatients and their family caregivers. Local site CAGs helped design and implement a recruitment strategy in which a CAG member accompanied the study coordinators to introduce the study to eligible patients. Initially, CAG members could not accompany study coordinators in person due to pandemic restrictions. Hence, they created videos of themselves introducing the study, just as they would have done in person. We examined outcomes to date by the three recruitment methods and race.

RESULTS

Of the 2879 patients screened, 228 were eligible and approached. Overall, the proportions of patients who consented 102 (44.7%) vs. not consented 126 (55.3%) were similar by race- White (consented= 75 [44.1%]) vs; Black (consented = 27 [46.6%]). Proportionally, consent rates favored CAG-involved methods: coordinator only- 47 approached and 13 (12.7%) consented vs. coordinator/CAG video-105 approached and 60 (58.8%) consented.

CONCLUSION

A novel community-enhanced recruitment strategy demonstrated the potential to increase clinical trial participation from historically under-represented populations.

Co-design and prototype development of the 'Ayzot App': A mobile phone based remote monitoring system for palliative care

BACKGROUND

Palliative care, a recognised component of care by the World Health Organization is poorly developed in low- and middle-income countries. Mobile phone technology, an effective way to increase access and sustainability of healthcare systems globally, has demonstrated benefits within palliative care service delivery, but is yet to be utilised in Ethiopia.

AIM

To co-design, develop and evaluate a mobile phone based remote monitoring system for use by palliative care patients in Ethiopia.

DESIGN

Two-phase co-design approach comprising multiple methods that is stakeholder interviews, focus groups, user-co-creation activities and healthcare worker prioritisation discussions 2019-2020. Phase-1 interviews (n = 40), Phase-2 focus groups (n = 3) and interviews (n = 10).

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Hospice Ethiopia and Yekatit 12 Medical College Hospital: healthcare workers, palliative care patients, family carers & software-developers.

RESULTS

Co-design activities lead to development of the prototype 'Ayzot' application, which was well received and reported to be easy to use. Patients, and family caregivers saw provision of self-care information and symptom management as a key function of the App and expressed very positive attitudes towards such information being included. Healthcare workers found the App offered service benefits, in terms of time and cost-savings.

CONCLUSION

This paper provides a detailed example of the development and design of a prototype remote monitoring system using mobile phone technology for palliative care use in Ethiopia. Further development and real-world testing are required, to not only understand how it acts within usual care to deliver anticipated benefits but also to explore its effectiveness and provide cost estimates for wider implementation.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Palliative Care Utilization among Hospitalized Patients with Esophageal Cancer in the United States

Objective: Due to poor 5-year survival and high symptom burden, esophageal cancer (EC) patients benefit markedly from palliative care utilization. However, there is scant literature exploring factors associated with receipt of palliative care in this population. The prevalence of palliative care consultations among hospitalized EC patients was assessed. Furthermore, we examined the factors associated with palliative care utilization among hospitalized patients with EC. Methods: Retrospective analyses were conducted using the National Inpatient Sample data collected between 2016 and 2018. Descriptive analyses were used to explore the overall prevalence of palliative care utilization. Univariate and multivariable regression models were used to examine factors associated with palliative care utilization among hospitalized EC patients. Results: The overall prevalence of palliative care utilization was 15.97%. Non-Hispanic Blacks had 1.16 times (95% CI: 1.00-1.34) higher odds of palliative care utilization compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Compared to patients on Medicare, those on Medicaid (AOR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.02-1.45), private (AOR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.06-1.35) and other insurance types (AOR: 1.68; 95% CI: 1.39-2.02) were more likely to utilize palliative care. Relative to patients hospitalized in the Northeast, those in Midwest (AOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.17-1.53), south (AOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.12-1.45), and west (AOR: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.22-1.61) were more likely to receive palliative care. Patients admitted to urban teaching hospitals (AOR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.07-1.52) had higher odds of having palliative care consultations when compared to their counterparts in rural hospitals. Also, patients who were either discharged to a facility/with home health (OR: 5.39; 95% CI: 4.76-6.10) or died during hospitalization (OR: 26.93; 95% CI: 23.31-31.11) had higher odds of utilizing palliative care when compared to those with a routine discharge. Other factors identified were median household income quartiles, admission type, chemotherapy receipt, and the number of comorbidities. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the need to further analyze and address factors that may hinder palliative care utilization among hospitalized EC patients to decrease disparities and improve their quality of life. Hospital physicians and health systems need to be more proactive about palliative care consultations to maximize the benefits to these sick cancer patients.

Factors Affecting Hospice Use Among Adolescents and Young Adult Cancer Patients

Background/Objective: Compared to existing studies on end-of-life care of mid- to older-aged patients diagnosed with cancer, there is a paucity of research on adolescents and young adult (AYA) patients. Guided by the Anderson's Behavioral Model for Healthcare Utilization, this study examined predisposing/enabling/need factors associated with hospice referral/enrollment among AYA patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods: Data were drawn from medical records of AYA patients who died of cancer between January 2013 and December 2016 at three academic sites in the United States and were 15-39 years old at the time of death. Logistic regression was conducted (N = 224). Results: Findings showed that hospice referral was strongly associated with hospice enrollment (odds ratio [OR] = 69.68, p < 0.0001). White patients were more likely to be referred to hospice care than non-White patients; the effect was, however, significant only among patients with private insurance (OR = 3.44, p = 0.040). Patients with public insurance were more likely to be referred to hospice than those with private insurance; the effect was, however, significant only among non-White patients (OR = 5.66, p = 0.005). Among those not receiving cancer treatment in the last month of life (LML), patients with hematologic malignancies were less likely to be referred to hospice than those with solid tumors (OR = 0.19). Among patients with solid tumors, receiving cancer treatment in the LML lowered the odds of hospice referral (OR = 0.50, p = 0.043). Conclusion: Further research efforts are needed to investigate the role of race, insurance, cancer types, and treatments in hospice use among bigger samples of AYA patients diagnosed with cancer.

Social Work Staffing and Use of Palliative Care Among Recently Hospitalized Veterans

IMPORTANCE

Palliative care improves quality of life for patients and families but may be underused.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the association of an intervention to increase social work staffing in Veterans Health Administration primary care teams with use of palliative care among veterans with a recent hospitalization.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study used differences-in-differences analyses of the change in palliative care use associated with implementation of the Social Work Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) staffing program, conducted from October 1, 2016, to September 30, 2019. The study included 71 VA primary care sites serving rural veterans. Participants were adult veterans who received primary care services from a site enrolled in the program and who received inpatient hospital care. Data were analyzed from January 2020 to August 2022.

EXPOSURES

The PACT staffing program was a clinic-level intervention that provided 3-year seed funding to Veterans Health Administration medical centers to hire 1 or more additional social workers in primary care teams. Staggered timing of the intervention enabled comparison of mean outcomes across sites before and after the intervention.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was the number of individuals per 1000 veterans who had any palliative care use in 30 days after an inpatient hospital stay.

RESULTS

The analytic sample included 43 200 veterans (mean [SD] age, 65.34 [13.95] years; 37 259 [86.25%] men) and a total of 91 675 episodes of inpatient hospital care. Among the total cohort, 8611 veterans (9.39%) were Black, 77 069 veterans (84.07%) were White, and 2679 veterans (2.92%) were another race (including American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander). A mean of 14.5 individuals per 1000 veterans (1329 individuals in all) used palliative care after a hospital stay. After the intervention, there was an increase of 15.6 (95% CI, 9.2-22.3) individuals per 1000 veterans using palliative or hospice care after a hospital stay, controlling for national time trends and veteran characteristics-a 2-fold difference relative to the mean.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cohort study found significant increases in use of palliative care for recently hospitalized veterans whose primary care team had additional social work staffing. These findings suggest that social workers may increase access to and/or use of palliative care. Future work should assess the mechanism for this association and whether the increase in palliative care is associated with other health or health care outcomes.

Rural community-based nurses' self-reported knowledge and skills in the provision of psychosocial care to palliative and end-of-life clients and carers

OBJECTIVE

This study examined rural community-based nurses' self-reported knowledge and skills in the provision of psychosocial care to rural residing palliative and end-of-life clients and carers. We further sought to determine correlates of knowledge gaps to inform workforce education and planning.

METHOD

Nurses from a rural area of Victoria, Australia, were invited to complete an electronic questionnaire rating their knowledge against 6 national palliative care standards and 10 screening and assessment tools. A 5-point scale of (1) No experience to (5) Can teach others was used to rate knowledge. Results were classified into three categories: practice gaps, areas of consolidation, and strengths. Descriptive and logistical regression was used to analyze data.

RESULTS

A total of 122 of 165 nurses (response rate = 74%) completed the survey. Of these nurses, 87% were Registered Nurses, 43% had ≥10 years' experience in palliative care, and 40% had palliative care training. The majority of practices across the standards and screening and assessment tools were rated as knowledge strengths (N = 55/67, 82%). Gaps and areas of consolidation were in the use of client and carer assessment tools, the care of specific populations such as children, supporting carers with appropriate referrals, resources, and grief, and facilitating the processes of reporting a death to the coroner. Lack of formal training and lower years of experience were found to be associated with practice gaps.

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Our study found rural nurses were confident in their knowledge and skills in the majority of psychosocial care. As generalist nurses make up the majority of the rural nursing workforce, further research should be undertaken on what educational strategies are needed to support and upskill rural community-based nurses to undertake formal training in palliative care.

Medical treatment decision-making in rural cancer patients: A qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis

OBJECTIVE

Rural cancer patients have unique care needs which may impact upon treatment decision-making. Our aim was to conduct a qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis to understand their perspectives and experiences of making treatment decisions.

METHODS

A systematic search of MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and RURAL was conducted for qualitative studies in rural cancer patients regarding treatment decision-making. Articles were screened for relevance, and data from the included articles were extracted and analysed using meta-thematic synthesis.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included, with 4 themes and 9 subthemes identified. Many studies reported patients were not given a choice regarding their treatment. Choice, if given, was influenced by personal factors such as finances, proximity to social supports, convenience, and their personal values. Patients were also influenced by the opinions of others and cultural norms. Finally, it was reported that patients made choices in the context of seeking the best possible medical care and the patient-clinician relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

In the rural context, there are universal and unique factors that influence the treatment decisions of cancer patients.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Our findings are an important consideration for clinicians when engaging in shared decision-making, as well as for policymakers, to understand and accommodate the unique rural perspective.

Implementation of a Palliative Care Program in a Rural Hospital: Report From the First Year

Palliative care has become an integral part of today's health care system. Inclusion of palliative care has been shown to positively affect patient satisfaction and can also impact medical costs. One of the ways palliative care can have such influence is through the development of prognostic awareness or a patient's understanding of their likely illness trajectory. Although palliative care programs have multiplied in general, there are still notable discrepancies in program availability, particularly in smaller rural hospitals. Despite numerous health care thought leaders' recommendations regarding the "ideal" palliative care team, this is not always feasible due to resource allocation. This article aims to describe 1 rural hospital's development of and initial outcomes from a hospital-based palliative care program.

Palliative care for rural growth and wellbeing: identifying perceived barriers and facilitators in access to palliative care in rural Indiana, USA

With the growing aging population and high prevalence of chronic illnesses, there is an increasing demand for palliative care. In the US state of Indiana, an estimated 6.3 million people are living with one or more chronic illnesses, a large proportion of them reside in rural areas where there is limited access to palliative care leading to major healthcare inequities and disparities. This study aims to identify common barriers and facilitators to access palliative care services in rural areas of Indiana from the perspectives of healthcare providers including clinicians, educators, and community stakeholders. Using a community-based participatory approach, a purposive sample of palliative care  providers (n = 15) in rural areas of Indiana was obtained. Penchansky and Thomas (1981) theoretical framework of access was used to guide the study. A semi-structured individual in-depth interview guide was used to collect the data. All the interviews were conducted online, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Barriers to palliative care  include: misconceptions about palliative care as an underrecognized specialty; lack of trained palliative care providers; late involvement of inpatient palliative care and community hospice services; inadequate palliative care education and training; financial barriers, attitudes and beliefs around PC; and geographical barriers. Facilitators to palliative care include financial gains supporting palliative care growth, enhanced nurses’ role in identifying patients with palliative care needs and creating awareness and informing the community about palliative care. Robust education and awareness, enhancing advanced practice nurses’ roles, increasing funding and resources are essential to improve the access of palliative care services in the rural communities of Indiana.

Examining Barriers and Facilitators to Palliative Care Access in Rural Areas: A Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Despite the growth of palliative care (PC), access to PC remains challenging for rural Americans living with chronic diseases. Given the demand and benefits of PC, a comprehensive view of PC access would inform policymakers in developing PC services in rural areas.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aimed to understand the barriers and facilitators to PC access in rural areas from the voices of service users and service providers during the past decade.

METHODS

A scoping literature review was conducted from 2010 to 2020 using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsychINFO databases. Results: Twenty-eight studies met inclusion criteria. Barriers to PC access in rural areas mostly arose in structural issues: (1) the inadequate knowledge and awareness of PC among both service users and providers and (2) the poorly structured PC system. Other barriers included communication gaps/challenges between providers and patients/families and cultural barriers. The facilitators mainly originated in patients/families' connectedness with local providers and with other social networks such as friends.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings highlight the need for funding support to increase provider competency, service availability and accessibility, and the public knowledge and awareness of PC in rural areas. A holistic and tailored PC model that standardizes care delivery, referral and coordination, including family caregiver support programs, can improve care access. Future practice and research are warranted to implement and evaluate innovative approaches, such as a coordinated community-based approach, to the successful integration of PC in rural communities.

Developing Successful Palliative Care Teams in Rural Communities: A Facilitated Process

Background:

Developing palliative care (PC) programs in rural settings is challenging due to limitations on training, staff, resources, and reimbursement. Employing established frameworks and processes can assist rural communities in developing quality PC programs.

Objective:

We sought to employ a facilitated community-centric planning process to guide several rural community teams across three states in the United States to support PC program development.

Materials and Methods:

This is a prospective, observational, quality improvement initiative implemented over 18–24 months.

Results:

A total of 17 community teams volunteered to participate in the process and completed initial assessments that identified gaps in clinical PC skills in several aspects of PC, including bereavement care, care continuity, pain and symptom management, and communication with family. Teams also identified barriers to optimizing PC for patient and families, including limited community awareness, poor reimbursement mechanisms, lack of resources and experience with PC, and inadequate care coordination. All 17 community teams developed and worked on implementation of a community-specific action plan to develop PC services. However, due to staff capacity limitations imposed by COVID-19, only eight communities completed a follow-up assessment in late 2020. These teams showed some improvement in knowledge of multiple PC domains as a result of the process and provided qualitative feedback indicating that the process was helpful in building capacity to offer needed services and developing the skills and workflows necessary to support delivery of PC.

Conclusion:

This unique development process can help rural communities organize, develop, and sustain PC programs and overcome common barriers to providing PC.

Palliative inter-professional learning via cased based tele-videoconference: Experience from the hospice development stage in Taiwan and China

ABSTRACT

Palliative care in rural areas can be difficult to assess and, often is of lower quality compared to more densely populated regions. A program of multicenter palliative care discussion forum via tele-videoconference may be a promising tool for exchanging valuable experience and constructing a comprehensive hospice care system in Taiwan and China.The multicenter palliative care discussion forum began 1997 and 2010 in Taiwan and China, respectively. In every forum, 1 to 2 cases were presented by multiple field specialists, and multi-dimensional problems were discussed. All of these case reports and reference materials from the forums were analyzed.The conference discussed 199 and 143 cases in Taiwan and China, including 172 and 143 cancer patients. The most common mentioned symptom was pain (66.3% in Taiwan, 96.95% in China). As time went on, the rate of discussion in pain management issues decreased, but the social and psycho-spiritual issues increased in Taiwan. After some major legal and social changes, the discussion of ethical issues increased rapidly. In China, the trends and ranking in discussion of nonpain management issues stabilized and showed most frequently in psycho-spiritual issues, followed by social, ethical and legal issues.Sharing palliative experience via tele-videoconferences is an effective tool to improve the quality of care, and also saves a significant amount of time and expense. Experts in different professions from different hospitals should discuss any palliative problems, share their valuable experience, and ponder a comprehensive hospice care.

Palliative Care and Life-Sustaining/Local Procedures in Colorectal Cancer in the United States Hospitals: A Ten-Year Perspective

Background

In recent years, palliative care utilization has been increasing while life-sustaining/local procedures have been declining at the end of life. Palliative care utilization widely varies based on tumor type. Limited information is available on inpatient palliative care in colorectal cancer.

Aims

This study investigated inpatient palliative care utilization and its association with patient demographics, hospital charges, and procedures among colorectal cancer patients admitted to US hospitals between 2008 and 2017. Receipt of life-sustaining and local procedures and surgeries were also investigated during the ten years.

Methods

Data were extracted from the National inpatient sample (NIS) database containing de-identified information from each hospitalization. Codes V66.7 for ICD-9-CM or Z51.5 for ICD-10-CM were used to find palliative care utilization. Data were analyzed using generalized regression with adjustment for variations in predictors. The Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) was calculated for palliative care and procedures over time.

Results

Of the 487,027 colorectal cancer hospitalizations, only 6.04% utilized palliative care. This percentage significantly increased over time from 2.3% in 2008 to 9.3% in 2017 (P<0.0001). Palliative care utilization sizably decreased hospital charges by $18,010 per hospitalization (P<0.0001) and was positively associated with female gender, severe disease, and age over 80 years (P≤ 0.05). Palliative care utilization was inversely associated with using life-sustaining and local procedures and surgeries (P<0.0001). Life-sustaining procedures (intubation, infusion of concentrate nutrients, dialysis, and blood transfusion) and surgeries were decreased over time (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Palliative care utilization increased over time and was inversely associated with hospital charges and performing procedures among colorectal cancer patients. Our findings warrant further research and interventions to increase palliative care utilization in colorectal cancer.

Adapting and Going the Extra Mile: A Qualitative Study of Palliative Care in Rural Northern Norway From the Perspective of Healthcare Providers

BACKGROUND

Despite significant developments in palliative care in recent decades, we still find important differences in access to and delivery of care in rural Norway.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore what healthcare professionals consider necessary to provide equality in care for palliative patients in rural areas.

METHODS

A qualitative approach with focus group discussions and individual interviews with 52 health professionals was used, starting with 5 uniprofessional focus groups of general practitioners and nurses/cancer nurses, followed by 5 interprofessional groups and 6 individual interviews. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

We found local variations in organization, competence and access to palliative care, and challenging geographical conditions. It was essential to be proactive, flexible and willing to go the extra mile, but this may conceal the need for a stronger focus on competence and organization of palliative care. Access to written guidelines and practical tools was important, as was forming palliative teams for particular situations.

CONCLUSIONS

Palliative care needs strengthening in rural areas, and increased competence for all healthcare professionals is vital to increase equality in care. Geographical conditions require locally adapted solutions. Access to guidelines and interprofessional collaboration are essential.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Rural palliative care needs in Norway are improving, as exemplified by at least 1 cancer nurse assigned to each local authority, and access to guidelines and palliative tools and interprofessional collaboration.

Rural disparities in end-of-life care for patients with heart failure: Are they due to geography or socioeconomic disparity?

PURPOSE

The impact of rurality and socioeconomic deprivation on end-of-life (EOL) care for patients with heart failure (HF) is unknown. We analyzed claims to describe the prevalence and predictors of EOL health care utilization for patients dying with HF in a predominantly rural state.

METHODS

We used the MaineHealth Data Organization's All-Payer Claims Data to identify 15,168 patients ≥35 who died with HF between 2012 and 2017. The primary outcome was health care utilization during the last 180 days of life (EOL definition for this analysis), including emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and hospice utilization. Patient characteristics analyzed included age, gender, comorbidities, area deprivation index (ADI), and rurality.

FINDINGS

Among 15,168 patients ≥35 who died with HF, 48% had ≥2 hospitalizations, 72% had ≥2 ED visit, 29% had an ICU stay, 2% initiated dialysis during EOL, and 64% received hospice. Rural patients were more likely to have an ICU admission and have ≥2 hospitalizations. Patients residing in areas with higher ADI were more likely to be hospitalized, admitted to the ICU, and started on dialysis. Both rural patients and those living in higher ADI areas were less likely to receive hospice. After multivariable adjustment, rurality and ADI were independently associated with a decreased likelihood of receiving hospice (OR 0.62 [95% CI: 0.53-0.72] for the most rural patients and OR 0.64 [95% CI: 0.57-0.72] for the highest ADI).

CONCLUSION

Both rurality and local area deprivation drive disparities in EOL care for patients dying with heart failure.

A Qualitative Study Describing Pediatric Palliative Care in Non-Metropolitan Areas of Illinois

BACKGROUND

There is little information about providing pediatric palliative care (PPC) in non-metropolitan areas.

OBJECTIVE

Describe the strengths of and challenges to delivering PPC in non-metropolitan communities and identify opportunities to improve care delivery.

DESIGN

A qualitative study involving focus groups (FGs) with PPC stakeholders.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

From 4 non-metropolitan areas in Illinois, we recruited 3 stakeholder groups: healthcare providers (HPs); bereaved parents; and parents caring for a seriously ill child (SIC).

MEASUREMENTS

At each site, we held an FG with people of the same stakeholder group and then an FG involving all stakeholders. Discussion topics included: availability and strengths of local PPC services, barriers to local PPC, opportunities for improving local PPC access and quality, and clinician educational needs. We analyzed data using phenomenology and directed content analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty people, 12 parents and 18 HPs, participated in FGs. Identified themes related to: PPC perceptions; availability and use of local resources; and challenges associated with travel, care coordination, and finances. Participants described benefits of and limits to local PPC including pediatric-specific issues such as attending to siblings, creating child peer-support activities, providing school guidance, and financing for PPC. Recommendations included suggestions to enhance care coordination, use existing resources, improve community and provider education, develop community networks, and minimize financial challenges.

CONCLUSION

Unique PPC challenges exist in non-metropolitan areas. PPC in non-metropolitan areas would benefit from enhancing local resource utilization and quality. Future work should address the challenges to providing PPC in non-metropolitan areas with a focus on pediatric-specific issues.

Can you hear me now?: Improving palliative care access through telehealth

Telehealth has been increasingly used to expand healthcare access over the last two decades. However, this had not been the case for palliative care (PC), because telehealth was considered nontraditional and impractical due to the sensitive nature of conversations and a "high touch" philosophy. Motivated by limited PC access to rural and underserved populations and positive PC telehealth studies, clinical PC telehealth models have been developing. However, nearly overnight, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the use and uptake of telehealth across health care and especially in PC. As a result, clinicians, administrators, and others agree that telehealth is "here to stay," and will likely maintain widespread use and refinement beyond rural areas. The purpose of this review is to describe exemplar PC telehealth programs in research and clinical practice, including pros and cons, lessons learned, and future directions for the ongoing development and expansion of PC via telehealth across diseases and the lifespan.

Human Touch via Touchscreen: Rural Nurses' Experiential Perspectives on Telehealth Use in Pediatric Hospice Care

CONTEXT

Telemedicine has the potential to extend care reach and access to home-based hospice services for children. Few studies have explored nurse perspectives regarding this communication modality for rural pediatric cohorts.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this qualitative study was to learn from the experiences of rural hospice nurses caring for children at the end of life using telehealth modalities to inform palliative communication.

METHODS

Voice-recorded qualitative interviews with rural hospice nurse telehealth users inquiring on nurse experiences with telehealth. Semantic content analysis was used.

RESULTS

About 15 hospice nurses representing nine rural hospice agencies were interviewed. Nurses participated in an average of eight telehealth visits in the three months prior. Nurses were female with a mean age of 38 years and an average of seven years of hospice nursing experience. Five themes about telehealth emerged: accessible support, participant inclusion, timely communication, informed and trusted planning, and familiarity fostered. Each theme had both benefits and cautions associated as well as telehealth suggestions. Nurses recommended individualizing communication, pacing content, fostering human connection, and developing relationships even with technology use.

CONCLUSION

The experiences of nurses who use telehealth in their care for children receiving end-of-life care in rural regions may enable palliative care teams to understand both the benefits and challenges of telehealth use. Nurse insights on telehealth may help palliative care teams better honor the communication needs of patients and families while striving to improve care access.

Using Telehealth for Hospice Reauthorization Visits: Results of a Quality Improvement Analysis

BACKGROUND

Increasing hospice need, a growing shortage of hospice providers, and concerns about in-person services because of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) require hospices to innovate care delivery.

MEASURES

This project compared outcomes between hospice reauthorization visits conducted via telehealth and in person. After each visit, providers, patients, and caregivers completed telehealth acceptance surveys, and providers recorded reauthorization recommendations.

INTERVENTION

Providers conducted 88 concurrent in-person and telehealth visits between June and November 2019.

OUTCOMES

No statistically significant differences in reauthorization recommendations were found between telehealth and in-person visits. Satisfaction with telehealth was high; 88% of patients/caregivers and 78% of providers found telehealth services as effective as in-person visits.

CONCLUSIONS/LESSONS LEARNED

Results indicate that telehealth can successfully support clinical decision making for hospice reauthorization. These findings show telehealth to be reliable and acceptable for certain types of hospice care even before COVID-19, which emphasizes its importance both during and after the current public health emergency.

Strengths, Gaps, and Opportunities: Results of a Statewide Community Needs Assessment of Pediatric Palliative Care and Hospice Resources

CONTEXT

Pediatric palliative care (PPC) can improve quality of life of children with life-threatening conditions and their families. However, PPC resources vary by state and within a state, and PPC resources and personnel are often inequitably distributed toward urban areas with major hospital systems. A community needs assessment (CNA) that evaluates the current status of PPC and pediatric hospice care can help identify gaps and opportunities to improve PPC access.

OBJECTIVES

A CNA was performed in the state of Georgia to explore the scope and gaps of PPC and hospice services and plan for what is needed to grow PPC and hospice services.

METHODS

The CNA used a mixed-methods approach, including a community profile, literature search, windshield survey, key informant interviews, and a quantitative online survey. The methodology is outlined in a companion article, entitled "A methodological approach to conducting a statewide community needs assessment of pediatric palliative care and hospice resources."

RESULTS

Four key themes were identified from synthesis of primary and secondary data collection: defining and providing PPC, the environment for PPC in Georgia, coordination and collaboration, and the future of PPC in Georgia. Recommendations to improve PPC services in Georgia were categorized by feasibility and importance. High feasibility and high importance recommendations included expanding PPC education for both providers and patients and creating a formal network or coalition of PPC providers and allies who can work collaboratively at multiple care levels across Georgia in expanding PPC services.

CONCLUSION

In Georgia, this assessment provides the foundation for next steps in coordinated efforts between hospital-based clinicians, state hospice and palliative care organizations, and state policy makers to ultimately expand PPC care available to children and families.

A Methodologic Approach to Conducting a Statewide Community Needs Assessment of Pediatric Palliative Care and Hospice Resources

CONTEXT

Prior studies have indicated that pediatric palliative care (PPC) resources vary across states and within regions in a state. Evaluating the current status of PPC and pediatric hospice care through a community needs assessment (CNA) can help address the gaps that exist to improve and increase access to PPC for children in need.

OBJECTIVES

Using the state of Georgia as an example, the process, methods, lessons learned, and limitations in conducting a statewide PPC CNA are described.

METHODS

A mixed-method descriptive design with multiple stages incorporating different methodological approaches was used. These included literature review, community profile, survey and interview questionnaire development, windshield survey, identifying and interviewing key informants, and quantitative survey of the state's hospice organizations. Key themes (providing PPC, PPC environment, collaboration, and future of PPC) and subthemes emerged, which were then triangulated across all existing data collection techniques to provide recommendations of varying feasibility and importance.

RESULTS

Described in a subsequent article (Johnson K.A. et al.).

CONCLUSION

This approach can be used by other state organizations, coalitions, governments, or national organizations looking to perform a CNA of palliative care, hospice resources, or could be applied to other geographical settings or types of care.

Perceptions of Palliative Care: Voices From Rural South Dakota

Objectives:

This study aimed to explore health professional, patient, family, and caregiver perceptions of palliative care, availability of palliative care services to patients across South Dakota, and consistency and quality of palliative care delivery.

Methods:

Six focus groups were conducted over two months. Participants included interprofessional healthcare team members, patients, family members of patients, and caregivers. Individuals with palliative care experiences or interest in palliative care were invited to participate. Recruitment strategies included emails, flyers, and direct contact by members of the Network. Snowball sampling was used to recruit participants.

Results:

Forty-six participants included patients, family members, caregivers and interprofessional health care team members. Most participants were Caucasian (93.3%) and female (80%). Six primary themes emerged: Need for guidance toward the development of a holistic statewide palliative care model; Poor conceptual understanding and awareness; Insufficient resources to implement complete care in all South Dakota communities; Disparities in the availability and provision of care services in rural SD communities; Need for relationship and connection with palliative care team; and Secondary effects of palliative care on patients/family/caregivers and interprofessional healthcare team members. Significance of Results: Disproportionate access is a principle problem identified for palliative care in rural South Dakota. Palliative care is poorly understood by providers and recipients of care. Service reach is also tempered by lack of resources and payer reimbursement constraints. A model for palliative care in these rural communities requires concerted attention to their unique needs and design of services suited for the rural residents.

Community Tele-pal: A community-developed, culturally based palliative care tele-consult randomized controlled trial for African American and White Rural southern elders with a life-limiting illness

BACKGROUND

Patients living in rural areas experience a variety of unmet needs that result in healthcare disparities. The triple threat of rural geography, racial inequities, and older age hinders access to high-quality palliative care (PC) for a significant proportion of Americans. Rural patients with life-limiting illness are at risk of not receiving appropriate palliative care due to a limited specialty workforce, long distances to treatment centers, and limited PC clinical expertise. Although culture strongly influences people's response to diagnosis, illness, and treatment preferences, culturally based care models are not currently available for most seriously ill rural patients and their family caregivers. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) is to compare a culturally based tele-consult program (that was developed by and for the rural southern African American (AA) and White (W) population) to usual hospital care to determine the impact on symptom burden (primary outcome) and patient and care partner quality of life (QOL), care partner burden, and resource use post-discharge (secondary outcomes) in hospitalized AA and White older adults with a life-limiting illness.

METHODS

Community Tele-pal is a three-site RCT that will test the efficacy of a community-developed, culturally based PC tele-consult program for hospitalized rural AA and W older adults with life-limiting illnesses (n = 352) and a care partner. Half of the participants (n = 176) and a care partner (n = 176) will be randomized to receive the culturally based palliative care consult. The other half of the patient participants (n = 176) and care partners (n = 176) will receive usual hospital care appropriate to their illness.

DISCUSSION

This is the first community-developed, culturally based PC tele-consult program for rural southern AA and W populations. If effective, the tele-consult palliative program and methods will serve as a model for future culturally based PC programs that can reduce patients' symptoms and care partner burden.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03767517 . Registered on 27 December 2018.

End-of-Life Cancer Care Resource Utilisation in Rural Versus Urban Settings: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Despite the advances in End-of-life (EOL) cancer care, disparities remain in the accessibility and utilisation of EOL cancer care resources. Often explained by socio-demographic factors, geographic variation exists in the availability and provision of EOL cancer care services among EOL cancer decedents across urban versus rural settings. This systematic review aims to synthesise mortality follow-back studies on the patterns of EOL cancer care resource use for adults (>18 years) during end-of-life cancer care.

METHODS

Five databases were searched and data analysed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Inclusion criteria involved; a) original research; b) quantitative studies; c) English language; d) palliative care related service use in adults (>18 years) with any malignancy excluding non-melanoma skin cancers; e) exclusive end of life focus; f) urban-rural focus. Narrative reviews and discussions were excluded.

RESULTS

24 studies met the inclusion criteria. End-of-life cancer care service utilisation patterns varied by rurality and treatment intent. Rurality was strongly associated with higher rates of Emergency Department (ED) visits and hospitalisations and lower rates of hospice care. The largest inequities between urban and rural health service utilisation patterns were explained by individual level factors including age, gender, proximity to service and survival time from cancer diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Rurality is an important predictor for poorer outcomes in end-of-life cancer care. Findings suggest that addressing the disparities in the urban-rural continuum is critical for efficient and equitable palliative cancer care. Further research is needed to understand barriers to service access and usage to achieve optimal EOL care for all cancer patient populations.

A Focus Group Study of Provider and Patient Perceptions of Communicating Advanced Care Planning Wishes Using Digital Storytelling

Advanced care planning (ACP) and end-of-life discussions are especially difficult among persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) as a result of patients' lack of trust in family and providers, HIV-related stigma, misunderstood spirituality concerns, social isolation, and other factors. Previous research has demonstrated that relatively few persons living with HIV/AIDS engage in ACP, yet developing culturally sensitive methods of ACP is imperative. One such method is digital storytelling, a video narrative that can be used to share ideas or aspects of a life story.The aim of this study was to examine perspectives from providers and persons living with HIV/AIDS about the acceptability, benefits, and technological challenges of and barriers to using digital storytelling for ACP. A qualitative descriptive design was employed using focus groups of 21 participants in South Central Appalachia. Transcribed data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings revealed patient and provider ideas about ACP, factors related to digital story acceptability, stigma against persons living with HIV/AIDS, and concern for the legality of ACPs expressed in digital story format. Future research should focus on the process of creating digital stories as an intervention to improve ACP in this unique aggregate.

A Qualitative Study of Pulmonary and Palliative Care Clinician Perspectives on Early Palliative Care in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Guidelines recommend that pulmonary clinicians involve palliative care in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); however, integration before advanced stage, that is, early palliative care, is rare. Objective: To explore and compare pulmonary and palliative care clinician perspectives on barriers, facilitators, and potential referral criteria for early palliative care in COPD. Design: Qualitative descriptive formative evaluation study. Setting/Subjects: Pulmonary and palliative care clinicians at a tertiary academic medical center. Measurements: Transcribed interviews were thematically analyzed by specialty to identify within- and across-specialty perspectives on barriers, facilitators, and referral criteria. Results: Twelve clinicians (n = 6 pulmonary, n = 6 palliative care) participated. Clinicians from both specialties agreed that early palliative care could add value to disease-focused COPD care. Perspectives on many barriers and facilitators were shared between specialties along broad educational, clinical, and operational categories. Pulmonary and palliative care clinicians shared concerns about the misconception that palliative care was synonymous to end-of-life care. Pulmonologists were particularly concerned about the potential risks of opioids and benzodiazepines in COPD. Both specialties stressed the need for clearly defined roles, consensus referral criteria, and novel delivery models. Although no single referral criterion was discussed by all, frequent hospitalizations and emotional symptoms were raised by most across disciplines. Multimorbidity and poor prognosis were discussed only by palliative care clinicians, whereas medication adherence was discussed only by pulmonary clinicians. Conclusions: Pulmonary and palliative care clinicians supported early palliative care in COPD. Continued needs include addressing pulmonologists' misconceptions of palliative care, establishing consensus referral criteria, and implementing novel early palliative care models.

Developing and Testing the Feasibility of a Culturally Based Tele-Palliative Care Consult Based on the Cultural Values and Preferences of Southern, Rural African American and White Community Members: A Program by and for the Community

Purpose: Lack of appreciation of cultural differences may compromise care for seriously ill minority patients, yet culturally appropriate models of palliative care (PC) are not currently available in the United States. Rural patients with life-limiting illness are at high risk of not receiving PC. Developing a PC model that considers the cultural preferences of rural African Americans (AAs) and White (W) citizens is crucial. The goal of this study was to develop and determine the feasibility of implementing a culturally based PC tele-consult program for rural Southern AA and W elders with serious illness and their families, and assess its acceptability to patients, their family members, and clinicians. Methods: This was a three-phase study conducted in rural Beaufort, South Carolina, from January 2013 to February 2016. We used Community-Based Participatory Research methods, including a Community Advisory Group (CAG) with equal numbers of AA and W members, to guide the study. Phase 1: Cultural values and preferences were determined through ethnic-based focus groups comprising family members (15 W and 16 AA) who had cared for a loved one who died within the past year. We conducted a thematic analysis of focus group transcripts, focused on cultural values and preferences, which was used as the basis for the study protocol. Phase 2: Protocol Development: We created a protocol team of eight CAG members, two researchers, two hospital staff members, and a PC physician. The PC physician explained the standard clinical guidelines for conducting PC consults, and CAG members proposed culturally appropriate programmatic recommendations for their ethnic group for each theme. All recommendations were incorporated into an ethnic-group specific protocol. Phase 3: The culturally based PC protocol was implemented by the PC physician via telehealth in the local hospital. We enrolled patients age ≥65 with a life-limiting illness who had a family caregiver referred by a hospitalist to receive the PC consult. To assess feasibility of program delivery, including its acceptability to patients, caregivers, and hospital staff, using Donebedian's Structure-Process-Outcome model, we measured patient/caregiver satisfaction with the culturally based consult by using an adaptation of FAMCARE-2. Results: Phase 1: Themes between W and AA were (1) equivalent: for example, disrespectful treatment of patients and family by hospital physicians; (2) similar but with variation: for example, although religion and church were important to both groups, and pastors in both ethnic groups helped family face the reality of end of life, AA considered the church unreservedly central to every aspect of life; (3) divergent, for example, AAs strongly believed that hope and miracles were always a possibility and that God was the decider, a theme not present in the W group. Phase 2: We incorporated ethnic group-specific recommendations for the culturally based PC consult into the standard PC consult. Phase 3: We tested feasibility and acceptability of the ethnically specific PC consult on 18 of 32 eligible patients. The telehealth system worked well. PC MD implementation fidelity was 98%. Most patients were non-verbal and could not rate satisfaction with consult; however, caregivers were satisfied or very satisfied. Hospital leadership supported program implementation, but hospitalists only referred 18 out of 28 eligible patients. Conclusions: The first culturally based PC consult program in the United States was developed in partnership with AA and W Southern rural community members. This program was feasible to implement in a small rural hospital but low referral by hospitalists was the major obstacle. Program effectiveness is currently being tested in a randomized clinical trial in three southern, rural states in partnership with hospitalists. This method can serve as a model that can be replicated and adapted to other settings and with other ethnic groups.

Dissemination and Implementation of Palliative Care in Oncology

Palliative care began in academic centers with specialty consultation services, and its value to patients, families, and health systems has been evident. The demand for palliative care to be integrated throughout the cancer trajectory, combined with a limited palliative care workforce, means that new models of care are needed. This review discusses evidence regarding the need for integration of palliative care into routine oncology care and describes best practices recognized for dissemination of palliative care. The available evidence suggests that palliative care be widely adopted by clinicians in all oncology settings to benefit patients with cancer and their families. Efforts are needed to adapt and integrate palliative care into community practice. Limitations of these models are discussed, as are future directions to continue implementation efforts. The benefits of palliative care can only be realized through effective dissemination of these principles of care, with more primary palliative care delivered by oncology clinicians.

Effect of an end-of-life gerontological nursing education programme on the attitudes and knowledge of clinical nurses: A non-randomised controlled trial

AIMS

To evaluate how a structured interactive two-day education programme for clinical nurses on end-of-life (EOL) care for older people affects nurses' attitudes and knowledge.

DESIGN

Non-randomised controlled trial.

METHODS

Nurses were recruited separately for intervention and control groups. The intervention group assisted older patients with EOL care and recruited patients for the programme. To prevent sampling bias, control group nurses were recruited from a facility with numerous EOL care opportunities. The intervention was a two-day educational programme. Using valid and reliable scales, we evaluated the attitudes (total score range: 26-130) and knowledge (total score range: 0-51) of the intervention group four times (pretraining, post-training, 3 months, 6 months) and the control group three times (baseline, 3 months, 6 months) between January 2016 and April 2017. Analysis of covariance examined both groups' score changes at 3 and 6 months while adjusting for confounding factors.

RESULTS

Participants were 338 nurses caring primarily for older people (intervention group: 164; control group: 174); 142 responded at all measurement points. The change in mean value of the attitude scale from baseline to 3 months (differences in the groups' attitude scores = 7.33; 95% CI = 2.43-12.24; p = .004) and 6 months (differences in groups' attitude scores = 5.77; 95% CI = 0.17-11.37; p = .044) was greater in the intervention group. Moreover, the mean knowledge scale score change from baseline to 3 months was greater in the intervention group (differences in groups' knowledge scores = 5.74; 95% CI = 4.07 to 7.39; p < .001). There was no evidence of a change in this score between baseline and 6 months.

CONCLUSION

The programme improved nurses' medium- to long-term attitudes and knowledge. Thus, it may help nurses enhance the quality of care they provide.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

A two-day educational program improves nurses' medium- to long-term attitudes and knowledge on end-oflife care. For quality end-of-life care for older people, a structured and evidence-based educational program should be provided to nursing staff.

Forging a New Frontier: Providing Palliative Care to People With Cancer in Rural and Remote Areas

Mounting evidence supports oncology organizations' recommendations of early palliative care as a cancer care best practice for patients with advanced cancer and/or high symptom burden. However, few trials on which these best practices are based have included rural and remote community-based oncology care. Therefore, little is known about whether early palliative care models are applicable in these low-resource areas. This literature synthesis identifies some of the challenges of integrating palliative care in rural and remote cancer care. Prominent themes include being mindful of rural culture; adapting traditional geographically based specialty care delivery models to under-resourced rural practices; and using novel palliative care education delivery methods to increase community-based health professional, layperson, and family palliative expertise to account for limited local specialty palliative care resources. Although there are many limitations, many rural and remote communities also have strengths in their capacity to provide high-quality care by capitalizing on close-knit, committed community practitioners, especially if there are receptive local palliative and hospice care champions. Hence, adapting palliative care models, using culturally appropriate novel delivery methods, and providing remote education and support to existing community providers are promising advances to aid rural people to manage serious illness and to die in place. Reformulating health policy and nurturing academic-community partnerships that support best practices are critical components of providing early palliative care for everyone everywhere.