Process Evaluation of a Mixed Methods Feasibility Study to Identify Hospital Patients with Palliative Care Needs in Portugal

Authors

  • Bárbara Antunes Primary Care Unit - Department of Public Health and Primary Care. University of Cambridge. Cambridge. Centre for Health Studies and Research. Coimbra. Portugal. Centre for Health Technology and Services Research. Porto. Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1655-7391
  • Pedro Pereira Rodrigues Centre for Health Studies and Research. Coimbra. Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto. Porto.
  • Irene J. Higginson King’s College London. Cicely Saunders Institute - Department of Midwifery and Palliative Care. Florence Nightingale School of Nursing. London.
  • Pedro Lopes Ferreira Centre for Health Studies and Research. Coimbra.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.15294

Keywords:

Decision Making, Health Services Research, Implementation Science, Medical Education, Palliative Care, Patient-centered Care

Abstract

Introduction: Evidence shows most patients are not recognised by their attending healthcare professionals as having palliative needs. This feasibility study aimed to aid healthcare professionals identify hospital patients with palliative needs.
Material and Methods: Mixed-methods, cross-sectional, observational study. The patient inclusion criteria comprised: age over 18 years old, being mentally capable to give consent judged as such by participating healthcare professionals, and if unable, having a legal substitute to consent, having a diagnosis of an incurable, potentially life-threatening illness. Field notes were taken for reflexive purposes. Outcome measures included: Integrated Palliative Care Outcome scale, surprise question, phase of illness, referral request status, The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status and social needs assessment. An interim data collection period meeting assessed implementation outcomes in each context. A web-based survey was sent to all participating healthcare professionals at the end of data collection period to explore overall experiences of participation and implementation outcomes.
Results: Forty-two departments in four hospitals were contacted. The study was presented in nine departments. The field notes were vital to understand the recruitment process and difficulties experienced: time constraints, fear of additional work, department dynamics and organisation, relationships between departments and need of training in palliative care and research. One department agreed to participate. There were six participating healthcare professionals and only 45 patients included. Three participating healthcare professionals responded to the web-based survey.
Conclusion: There is an urgent need to provide generalist palliative care training to clinicians.

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Author Biography

Bárbara Antunes, Primary Care Unit - Department of Public Health and Primary Care. University of Cambridge. Cambridge. Centre for Health Studies and Research. Coimbra. Portugal. Centre for Health Technology and Services Research. Porto. Portugal

NIHR ARC Research Associate

Primary Care Unit

Published

2022-02-01

How to Cite

1.
Antunes B, Pereira Rodrigues P, Higginson IJ, Lopes Ferreira P. Process Evaluation of a Mixed Methods Feasibility Study to Identify Hospital Patients with Palliative Care Needs in Portugal. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2022 Feb. 1 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];35(2):94-104. Available from: https://www.actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/15294

Issue

Section

Original