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Forbat L, Macgregor A, Spilsbury K, McCormack B, Rutherford A, Hanratty B, Hockley J, Davison L, Ogden M, Soulsby I, McKenzie M. Using Palliative Care Needs Rounds in the UK for care home staff and residents: an implementation science study. HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE DELIVERY RESEARCH 2024; 12:1-134. [PMID: 39046763 DOI: 10.3310/krwq5829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Background Care home residents often lack access to end-of-life care from specialist palliative care providers. Palliative Care Needs Rounds, developed and tested in Australia, is a novel approach to addressing this. Objective To co-design and implement a scalable UK model of Needs Rounds. Design A pragmatic implementation study using the integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework. Setting Implementation was conducted in six case study sites (England, n = 4, and Scotland, n = 2) encompassing specialist palliative care service working with three to six care homes each. Participants Phase 1: interviews (n = 28 care home staff, specialist palliative care staff, relatives, primary care, acute care and allied health practitioners) and four workshops (n = 43 care home staff, clinicians and managers from specialist palliative care teams and patient and public involvement and engagement representatives). Phase 2: interviews (n = 58 care home and specialist palliative care staff); family questionnaire (n = 13 relatives); staff questionnaire (n = 171 care home staff); quality of death/dying questionnaire (n = 81); patient and public involvement and engagement evaluation interviews (n = 11); fidelity assessment (n = 14 Needs Rounds recordings). Interventions (1) Monthly hour-long discussions of residents' physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs, alongside case-based learning, (2) clinical work and (3) relative/multidisciplinary team meetings. Main outcome measures A programme theory describing what works for whom under what circumstances with UK Needs Rounds. Secondary outcomes focus on health service use and cost effectiveness, quality of death and dying, care home staff confidence and capability, and the use of patient and public involvement and engagement. Data sources Semistructured interviews and workshops with key stakeholders from the six sites; capability of adopting a palliative approach, quality of death and dying index, and Canadian Health Care Evaluation Project Lite questionnaires; recordings of Needs Rounds; care home data on resident demographics/health service use; assessments and interventions triggered by Needs Rounds; semistructured interviews with academic and patient and public involvement and engagement members. Results The programme theory: while care home staff experience workforce challenges such as high turnover, variable skills and confidence, Needs Rounds can provide care home and specialist palliative care staff the opportunity to collaborate during a protected time, to plan for residents' last months of life. Needs Rounds build care home staff confidence and can strengthen relationships and trust, while harnessing services' complementary expertise. Needs Rounds strengthen understandings of dying, symptom management, advance/anticipatory care planning and communication. This can improve resident care, enabling residents to be cared for and die in their preferred place, and may benefit relatives by increasing their confidence in care quality. Limitations COVID-19 restricted intervention and data collection. Due to an insufficient sample size, it was not possible to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of Needs Rounds or calculate the treatment effect or family perceptions of care. Conclusions Our work suggests that Needs Rounds can improve the quality of life and death for care home residents, by enhancing staff skills and confidence, including symptom management, communications with general practitioners and relatives, and strengthen relationships between care home and specialist palliative care staff. Future work Conduct analysis of costs-benefits and treatment effects. Engagement with commissioners and policy-makers could examine integration of Needs Rounds into care homes and primary care across the UK to ensure equitable access to specialist care. Study registration This study is registered as ISRCTN15863801. Funding This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR128799) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 19. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz Forbat
- Faculty of Social Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Aisha Macgregor
- Faculty of Social Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | | | - Brendan McCormack
- Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
- Østfold University College, Norway
| | | | - Barbara Hanratty
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle, England, UK
| | - Jo Hockley
- College of Medicine and Veterinary Science, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Lisa Davison
- Faculty of Social Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Margaret Ogden
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, Faculty of Social Science, University of Stirling, UK
| | - Irene Soulsby
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, Faculty of Social Science, University of Stirling, UK
| | - Maisie McKenzie
- Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement, Faculty of Social Science, University of Stirling, UK
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Smith R, Merlo G, Broadbent AM, Lock C, Mickan S, Morgan N. Development and implementation of the Specialist Palliative Care in Aged Care (SPACE) Project across Queensland. AUST HEALTH REV 2024; 48:201-206. [PMID: 38467110 DOI: 10.1071/ah23272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
There is an urgent and unmet need for specialist palliative care services in residential aged care. The Specialist Palliative Care in Aged Care (SPACE) Project aimed to improve palliative and end-of-life care for older people living in residential aged care facilities in Queensland. A representative working group developed a series of service principles around palliative care practice in aged care (comprehensive resident-focused care, streamlined service, and capacity building). Funding was allocated by population to the health services in Queensland to adapt and implement models of care aligned with these principles. SPACE successfully implemented a variety of decentralised models of care across Queensland. The critical elements for the success of SPACE were the use of an expert working group to define the core innovation, networking and implementation support from the central project team and community of practice, and adaptable models of care led by local facilitators. Lessons learned from this real-world case study could be adopted to guide and ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of future complex interventions in healthcare settings, both nationally and internationally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Smith
- Townsville University Hospital, Douglas, Qld, Australia; and Healthcare Improvement Unit, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Gregory Merlo
- Healthcare Improvement Unit, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Andrew M Broadbent
- Healthcare Improvement Unit, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia; and Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Qld, Australia; and Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
| | - Caitlin Lock
- Voluntary Dying Unit, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Sharon Mickan
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
| | - Nicola Morgan
- Healthcare Improvement Unit, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia; and Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service, Southport, Qld, Australia; and Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Qld, Australia
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Cantón-Habas V, Carrera-González MDP, Moreno-Casbas MT, Rich-Ruiz M. Spanish adaptation and validation of the Pain Assessment Scale in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) in patients with dementia and impaired verbal communication: cross-sectional study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e049211. [PMID: 34158307 PMCID: PMC8220480 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia (PAINAD) scale in Spanish. DESIGN Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING Two health districts of Andalusian provinces, located in the south of Spain, through the Andalusian network of Primary Healthcare centres and four institutions dedicated to the care of patients with dementia. PARTICIPANTS A total of 100 older people, with a medical diagnosis of dementia and a score on the Global Deterioration Scale between 5 and 7 were assessed using the PAINAD scale. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Psychometric properties including content validity, construct validity and reliability of the scale have been tested. RESULTS The overall Item Content Validity Index was excellent (0.95). Regarding construct validity, it was confirmed that a lower use of analgesics implied a lower score on the PAINAD scale (p<0.05). The internal consistency of the scale was 0.76 and it increases to 0.81 if we remove the breathing item. Furthermore, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) used to assess interobserver reliability was 0.94, whereas the ICC used to assess temporary stability was 0.55. CONCLUSIONS The Spanish version of the PAINAD scale is a valid tool to assess pain in patients with dementia and inability to communicate verbally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa Cantón-Habas
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
| | - María Del Pilar Carrera-González
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
- Experimental and Clinical Physiopathology Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaen Faculty of Experimental Sciences, Jaen, Spain
| | - María Teresa Moreno-Casbas
- Ciber Fragility and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Nursing and Healthcare Research Unit (Investén-isciii), Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Rich-Ruiz
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía (HURS), Cordoba, Spain
- Ciber Fragility and Healthy Aging (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Nursing and Healthcare Research Unit (Investén-isciii), Madrid, Spain
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Reinhardt JP. What Predicts Hospice Use in the Nursing Home? JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK IN END-OF-LIFE & PALLIATIVE CARE 2020; 16:286-293. [PMID: 32865147 DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2020.1800553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The choice to utilize hospice care in the nursing home when residents are experiencing progressive decline can promote positive quality of care and comfort for residents at the end of life. Concurrent hospice and nursing home care can be less aggressive, and improve symptom management and perceived quality by family members. Using a secondary analysis of retrospective data from the electronic medical record, this study identified predictors of hospice use among 300 nursing home decedents using a six-month look back period. Findings showed that having poorer physical status (weight loss), cognitive status, and having had a "goals of care" conversation were significantly associated with greater likelihood of using hospice in the nursing home in the last six months of life. Interdisciplinary team members who provide care on a daily basis and are in a position to detect worsening medical condition of residents and can facilitate advance planning. Care planning that includes examining goals of care and communication with hospice providers when multiple care providers are involved is essential.
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Forbat L, Liu WM, Koerner J, Lam L, Samara J, Chapman M, Johnston N. Reducing time in acute hospitals: A stepped-wedge randomised control trial of a specialist palliative care intervention in residential care homes. Palliat Med 2020; 34:571-579. [PMID: 31894731 DOI: 10.1177/0269216319891077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Care home residents are frequently transferred to hospital, rather than provided with appropriate and timely specialist care in the care home. AIM To determine whether a model of care providing specialist palliative care in care homes, called Specialist Palliative Care Needs Rounds, could reduce length of stay in hospital. DESIGN Stepped-wedge randomised control trial. The primary outcome was length of stay in acute care (over 24-h duration), with secondary outcomes being the number and cost of hospitalisations. Care homes were randomly assigned to cross over from control to intervention using a random number generator; masking was not possible due to the nature of the intervention. Analyses were by intention to treat. The trial was registered with ANZCTR: ACTRN12617000080325. Data were collected between 1 February 2017 and 30 June 2018. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS 1700 residents in 12 Australian care homes for older people. RESULTS Specialist Palliative Care Needs Rounds led to reduced length of stay in hospital (unadjusted difference: 0.5 days; adjusted difference: 0.22 days with 95% confidence interval: -0.44, -0.01 and p = 0.038). The intervention also provided a clinically significant reduction in the number of hospitalisations by 23%, from 5.6 to 4.3 per facility-month. A conservative estimate of annual net cost-saving from reduced admissions was A$1,759,011 (US$1.3 m; UK£0.98 m). CONCLUSION The model of care significantly reduces hospitalisations through provision of outreach by specialist palliative care clinicians. The data offer substantial evidence for Specialist Palliative Care Needs Rounds to reduce hospitalisations in older people approaching end of life, living in care homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz Forbat
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.,Australian Catholic University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Wai-Man Liu
- Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Jane Koerner
- Australian Catholic University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Lawrence Lam
- University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Michael Chapman
- Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.,ACT Health, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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Cantón-Habas V, Carrera-González MDP, Moreno-Casbas MT, Quesada-Gómez JM, Rich-Ruiz M. Correlation between biomarkers of pain in saliva and PAINAD scale in elderly people with cognitive impairment and inability to communicate: descriptive study protocol. BMJ Open 2019; 9:e032927. [PMID: 31712347 PMCID: PMC6858249 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pain is an under-diagnosed problem in elderly people, especially in those with cognitive impairment who are unable to verbalise their pain. Although the Pain assessment in advanced dementia scale (PAINAD) scale is a tool recognised for its clinical interest in this type of patients, its correlation with the saliva biomarkers reinforced its utility. The aim of this research will be to correlate the scores of this scale with the levels of biomarkers of pain found in saliva samples of patients with cognitive impairment and inability to communicate. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This is an observational study. The level of pain will be evaluated using the PAINAD scale. Moreover, pain biomarkers, in particular secretory IgA and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor type II, will be determined in saliva. Both assessments will be conducted in 75 patients aged over 65 years with advanced cognitive impairment and inability to communicate. The PAINAD scores will be correlated with the levels of these biomarkers of pain. A control group consisting of 75 healthy subjects aged over 65 years will be included in the study. Moreover, sociodemographic variables and variables related to pain, dementia and other clinical conditions will be recorded. The analysis will be performed with the statistical package SPSS V.22 and the software R. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been reviewed and approved by the Andalusian Human Research Ethics Committee. In addition, this study has been financed by the Junta de Andalucía through a regional health research fund (Research code: PI-0357-2017). The results will be actively disseminated trough a high-impact journal in our study area, conference presentations and social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa Cantón-Habas
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica (IMIBIC)/ Universidad de Córdoba/ Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - María Del Pilar Carrera-González
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica (IMIBIC)/ Universidad de Córdoba/ Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - María Teresa Moreno-Casbas
- Nursing and Healthcare Research Unit (Investén-isciii), Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Madrid, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
| | - José Manuel Quesada-Gómez
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC) & Unidad de Gestión Clínica (UGC) de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Rich-Ruiz
- Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica (IMIBIC)/ Universidad de Córdoba/ Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
- Ciber Fragilidad y Envejecimiento Saludable (CIBERFES), Madrid, Spain
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Liu WM, Koerner J, Lam L, Johnston N, Samara J, Chapman M, Forbat L. Improved Quality of Death and Dying in Care Homes: A Palliative Care Stepped Wedge Randomized Control Trial in Australia. J Am Geriatr Soc 2019; 68:305-312. [PMID: 31681981 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mortality in care homes is high, but care of dying residents is often suboptimal, and many services do not have easy access to specialist palliative care. This study examined the impact of providing specialist palliative care on residents' quality of death and dying. DESIGN Using a stepped wedge randomized control trial, care homes were randomly assigned to crossover from control to intervention using a random number generator. Analysis used a generalized linear and latent mixed model. The trial was registered with ANZCTR: ACTRN12617000080325. SETTING Twelve Australian care homes in Canberra, Australia. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1700 non-respite residents were reviewed from the 12 participating care homes. Of these residents, 537 died and 471 had complete data for analysis. The trial ran between February 2017 and June 2018. INTERVENTION Palliative Care Needs Rounds (hereafter Needs Rounds) are monthly hour-long staff-only triage meetings to discuss residents at risk of dying without a plan in place. They are chaired by a specialist palliative care clinician and attended by care home staff. A checklist is followed to guide discussions and outcomes, focused on anticipatory planning. MEASUREMENTS This article reports secondary outcomes of staff perceptions of residents' quality of death and dying, care home staff confidence, and completion of advance care planning documentation. We assessed (1) quality of death and dying, and (2) staff capability of adopting a palliative approach, completion of advance care plans, and medical power of attorney. RESULTS Needs Rounds are associated with staff perceptions that residents had a better quality of death and dying (P < .01; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.83-12.21), particularly in the 10 facilities that complied with the intervention protocol (P < .01; 95% CI = 6.37-13.32). Staff self-reported perceptions of capability increased (P < .01; 95% CI = 2.73-6.72). CONCLUSION The data offer evidence for monthly triage meetings to transform the lives, deaths, and care of older people residing in care homes. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:305-312, 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wai-Man Liu
- Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Jane Koerner
- University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | | | - Nikki Johnston
- Calvary Public Hospital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Juliane Samara
- Calvary Public Hospital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Michael Chapman
- Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,ACT Health, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Liz Forbat
- Australian Catholic University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,University of Stirling, Stirling, United Kingdom
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Trotta RL, Boltz M, Happ MB, Strumpf N. Cultivating Knowing and Relationships: Nursing Assistants’ Interactions With Residents Receiving Palliative Care. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.20467/1091-5710.22.4.189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable members of society. The literature emphasizes promotion of personhood, dignity, and comfort—dimensions that fall within the purview of the certified nursing assistant (CNA). Little is known about how CNAs approach caring for a dying resident. This grounded theory study explored CNA–resident interactions for residents receiving palliative care. The theory “Cultivating Knowing and Relationships” emerged, which represents a social–psychological process of how CNAs capitalize on reciprocity and achievement of gratification to develop personal relationships with residents and maintain personhood and dignity through death. These findings underscore CNAs’ significant role in enhancing quality.
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Wilson DM, Shen Y, Birch S. New Evidence on End-of-Life Hospital Utilization for Enhanced Health Policy and Services Planning. J Palliat Med 2017; 20:752-758. [PMID: 28282256 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2016.0490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Long-standing concern exists over hospital use by people near or at the end of life (EOL) related to the appropriateness, quality, and cost of care in hospital. It is widely believed that most people die in hospital after an escalation in hospital use over the last year of life. As most deaths in high-income countries are not sudden or unexpected, opportunities exist for planning compassionate, effective, and evidence-based EOL care. OBJECTIVE Gain current population-based evidence for EOL health policy and services planning. DESIGN Retrospective study of population-based hospital utilization data. SETTING/SUBJECTS All hospital patients in every Canadian province and territory except Quebec. All decedents with hospital separations in 2014-2015. MEASURES Descriptive-comparative and logical regression analysis tests. RESULTS In 2014-2015, 3.5% of hospital episodes ended in death and 43.7% of all deaths in Canada (excluding Quebec) took place in hospital. 95.2% of those dying in hospital were only admitted once or twice during their last 365 days of life. 3.6% of those dying in hospital had been living in the community and receiving publicly funded home care before the hospital admission that ended in death, while 67.0% had been living at home without home care. 79.0% of hospital deaths followed an unplanned admission through the emergency room, with 70.5% arriving by ambulance. The hospital care provided in the last stay was largely noninterventionist. CONCLUSIONS These findings reveal the need for a major reconceptualization of death, dying, and EOL care to ensure sufficient capacity of palliative home care and other services to support dying people and prevent the health and family caregiver crises that lead to hospital-based EOL care and death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donna M Wilson
- 1 Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
| | - Ye Shen
- 2 School of Public Health, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
| | - Stephen Birch
- 3 Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University , Hamilton, Canada
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Chapman M, Johnston N, Lovell C, Forbat L, Liu WM. Avoiding costly hospitalisation at end of life: findings from a specialist palliative care pilot in residential care for older adults. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2016; 8:102-109. [PMID: 27496356 DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-001071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Specialist palliative care is not a standardised component of service delivery in nursing home care in Australia. Specialist palliative care services can increase rates of advance care planning, decrease hospital admissions and improve symptom management in such facilities. New approaches are required to support nursing home residents in avoiding unnecessary hospitalisation and improving rates of dying in documented preferred place of death. This study examined whether the addition of a proactive model of specialist palliative care reduced resident transfer to the acute care setting, and achieved a reduction in hospital deaths. METHODS A quasi-experimental design was adopted, with participants at 4 residential care facilities. The intervention involved a palliative care nurse practitioner leading 'Palliative Care Needs Rounds' to support clinical decision-making, education and training. Participants were matched with historical decedents using propensity scores based on age, sex, primary diagnosis, comorbidities and the Aged Care Funding Instrument rating. Outcome measures included participants' hospitalisation in the past 3 months of life and the location of death. RESULTS The data demonstrate that the intervention is associated with a substantial reduction in the length of hospital stays and a lower incidence of death in the acute care setting. While rates of hospitalisation were unchanged on average, length of admission was reduced by an average of 3.22 days (p<0.01 and 95% CI -5.05 to -1.41), a 67% decrease in admitted days. CONCLUSIONS The findings have significant implications for promoting quality outcomes through models of palliative care service delivery in residential facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Chapman
- Department of Palliative Care, Canberra Regional Cancer Centre, Canberra Hospital, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.,Australian National University Medical School, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Nikki Johnston
- Clare Holland House, Calvary Health Care ACT, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Clare Lovell
- Clare Holland House, Calvary Health Care ACT, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Liz Forbat
- Director for the Calvary Centre for Palliative Care Research, Calvary Health Care Bruce and the Australian Catholic University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Wai-Man Liu
- Research School of Finance, Actuarial Studies & Statistics, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
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