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Müller E, Mayer-Steinacker R, Gencer D, Keßler J, Alt-Epping B, Schönsteiner S, Jäger H, Couné B, Elster L, Keser M, Rauser J, Marquardt S, Becker G. Feasibility, use and benefits of patient-reported outcome measures in palliative care units: a multicentre observational study. Palliat Care 2023; 22:6. [PMID: 36641450 PMCID: PMC9839955 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-022-01123-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has shown that routinely assessed, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) have positive effects in patients with advanced oncologic diseases. However, the transferability of these results to specialist palliative care is uncertain because patients are more impaired and staff doubt the feasibility and benefits. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of patient self-assessment of PROMs, their use by staff and the benefits in palliative care wards. METHOD A multicentre observational study was conducted in the context of the implementation of the Integrated Patient Outcome Scale (IPOS) in three specialist palliative care wards at university hospitals in Germany. All admitted patients who screened positive regarding their ability to complete questionnaires were asked to participate and complete the IPOS on paper weekly, with assistance if necessary. Feasibility of questionnaire completion (e.g. proportion of patients able to complete them), use (e.g. involvement of different professional groups) and benefit (e.g. unexpected information in IPOS as rated by treating physicians) were assessed. Staff members' opinion was obtained in a written, anonymous evaluation survey, patients' opinion in a short written evaluation. RESULTS A total of 557 patients were screened for eligibility, 235 were assessed as able to complete the IPOS (42.2%) and 137 participated in the study (24.6%). A majority needed support in completing the IPOS; 40 staff members and 73 patients completed the evaluation. Unexpected information was marked by physicians in 95 of the 137 patient questionnaires (69.3%). The staff differed in their opinions on the question of whether this also improved treatment. A majority of 32 staff members (80.0%) were in favour of continuing the use of IPOS (4 against continuation, 4 no answer); 43 (58.9%) patients rated their overall experience of IPOS use as 'positive', 29 (39.7%) as 'neutral' and 1 (1.4%) as 'negative'. CONCLUSIONS While most staff wished to continue using IPOS, it was a challenge to integrate the effort to support the completion of IPOS into daily practice. Digital implementation was not successful, despite various attempts. To explore the effects on care and patient outcomes, multicentre cluster-randomised trials could be employed. TRIAL REGISTRATION German Clinical Trials Register DRKS-ID: DRKS00016681 (24/04/2019).
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Müller
- grid.5963.9Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Regine Mayer-Steinacker
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany ,Competence Centre Palliative Care of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Deniz Gencer
- grid.411778.c0000 0001 2162 1728Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mannheim Cancer Center, Mannheim University Hospital, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany ,Competence Centre Palliative Care of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jens Keßler
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908Department of Anaesthesiology, Devision of Pain Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 131, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany ,Competence Centre Palliative Care of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Alt-Epping
- Competence Centre Palliative Care of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 305, Heidelberg, 69120 Germany
| | - Stefan Schönsteiner
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany ,Competence Centre Palliative Care of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Helga Jäger
- grid.5963.9Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bettina Couné
- grid.5963.9Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Luise Elster
- grid.5963.9Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Muhammet Keser
- grid.411778.c0000 0001 2162 1728Department of Hematology and Oncology, Mannheim Cancer Center, Mannheim University Hospital, Mannheim Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Julia Rauser
- grid.410712.10000 0004 0473 882XDepartment of Hematology and Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, University Medical Center Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Susanne Marquardt
- grid.5253.10000 0001 0328 4908Department of Anaesthesiology, Devision of Pain Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 131, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gerhild Becker
- grid.5963.9Department of Palliative Medicine, Medical Center – University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany ,Competence Centre Palliative Care of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Robert-Koch Str. 3, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
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Seibel K, Couné B, Mueller M, Boehlke C, Simon ST, Bausewein C, Becker G. Implementation of an acute palliative care unit for COVID-19 patients in a tertiary hospital: Qualitative data on clinician perspectives. Palliat Med 2022; 36:332-341. [PMID: 35176931 DOI: 10.1177/02692163211059690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become apparent that palliative care has dynamically adapted to the care of dying patients with and without COVID-19 and has developed new forms of collaboration. Evaluation is needed to assess which innovations should be integrated into future pandemic management. AIM To explore the experiences of stakeholders and staff in implementing and operating an ad hoc unit delivering acute palliative care. What lessons were learned? DESIGN Qualitative interview study (German Clinical Trials Register; identifier 22,473) with qualitative content analysis. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS During the first wave of the pandemic, the University Medical Center Freiburg (Germany) established an ad hoc unit delivering acute palliative care for COVID-19 patients likely to die. Nurses from non-palliative areas and the specialist palliative care team formed a new team working together there. Twenty-nine individuals from management and staff of this unit were interviewed. RESULTS Patient care and teamwork were rated positively. Joint familiarization, bedside teaching, and team/management support were evaluated as core elements for success. Challenges for the nurses from non-palliative settings included adapting to palliative care routines and culture of care. The palliative care team had to adjust the high standards of palliative care to pandemic conditions. Due to sufficient hospital-wide capacity, only three COVID-19 patients were treated, significantly fewer than anticipated at planning. CONCLUSIONS Results show the feasibility of an ad hoc COVID-19 acute palliative care unit. In the event of capacity constraints, such a unit can be a viable part of future pandemic management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Seibel
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bettina Couné
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Mueller
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Boehlke
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Steffen T Simon
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany.,University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Dusseldorf, Cologne, Germany
| | - Claudia Bausewein
- Department of Palliative Medicine, LMU Klinikum, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
| | - Gerhild Becker
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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