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Zhao DW, Robinson SG, Pozzar R, Leiter R, Walsh C, Siemens I, Lovrics E, Cellarius V, Mahtani R, Jia Z. The Evolving Roles and Expectations of Inpatient Palliative Care Through COVID-19: a Systematic Review and Meta-synthesis. J Gen Intern Med 2024; 39:661-682. [PMID: 38100009 DOI: 10.1007/s11606-023-08564-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Palliative care performed a central role in responding to the systemic suffering incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, few studies have elucidated the inpatient palliative care specialists' experiences and perceptions. OBJECTIVE Systematically review and synthesize the evolving roles and expectations of inpatient palliative care specialists in response to COVID-19. DESIGN A systematic review and meta-synthesis informed by Thomas and Harden's framework and Pozzar et al.'s approach was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PubMed were systematically searched for articles published between December 2019 and March 2023. We included all peer-reviewed qualitative and mixed-method literature studying the roles and expectations of inpatient palliative care specialists. A mixed-method appraisal tool was used for quality assessment. RESULTS Of 3869 unique articles, 52 were included. Studies represented North American (n = 23), European (n = 16), South American (n = 4), Oceanic (n = 2), Asian (n = 2), West African (n = 1), Middle Eastern (n = 1), and inter-continental settings (n = 3). Most were reported in English (n = 50), conducted in 2020 (n = 28), and focused on the perspectives of inpatient palliative care clinicians (n = 28). Three descriptive themes captured the roles and expectations of inpatient palliative care specialists: shifting foundations, reorienting to relationships, and evolving identity. Two analytical themes were synthesized: palliative care propagates compassion through a healing presence, and palliative care enhances the systemic response to suffering through nimble leadership. CONCLUSION Inpatient palliative care specialists responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing their healing presence and leading with their adaptability. To develop institutionally tailored and collaborative responses to future pandemics, future studies are needed to understand how inpatient palliative care clinicians are recognized and valued within their institutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Weisman Zhao
- Department of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Shahar Geva Robinson
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Soroka University Medical Centre, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Rachel Pozzar
- Phyllis F. Cantor Center for Research in Nursing and Patient Care Services, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard Leiter
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chris Walsh
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Isaac Siemens
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emily Lovrics
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Victor Cellarius
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ramona Mahtani
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhimeng Jia
- Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Palliative Care, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Program in Global Palliative Care, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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