Background
We have a clear understanding of what is important for quality care for patients with palliative care needs, and their families, when receiving care in the hospital setting. However, a limitation of progressing this research agenda is the lack of a validated, suitable measurement tool with the right balance between brevity and informativeness for use in the Australian context.
Aim
To test the feasibility and acceptability of a brief experience measure within an Australian hospital for patients with palliative care needs, their families/carers (‘carers’) and the acute care team.
Methods
Mixed methods using a two phase, fully mixed sequential dominant design (QUAL-Quan). Phase 1 focused on appraising the tool’s face and content validity (‘acceptability’) from an Australian patient / carer and clinician perspective (QUAL and QUAL). Phase 2 focused on the feasibility of administering this tool within inpatient clinical settings (QUAN and QUAL).
Results
Phase 1 was informed by 19 patient interviews, 8 carer interviews and three focus groups (clinicians, consumer representatives and clinical executives). Patients included perspectives from those with malignant (n=15) and non-malignant (n=4) diagnoses. Carers included perspectives from those with malignant (n=3) and non-malignant (n=5) diagnoses. Limited cultural diversity was noted. Preliminary data integration suggested one tool was of preference (ConsideRATE tool) and seemed more applicable to supporting change in practice. Phase 2 implemented the ConsideRATE tool with 80 survey completions by inpatients with palliative care needs across three wards. Data analysis for these survey results is underway and will be reported.
Discussion
The implementation of routine patient experience measures needs consideration within the palliative care context. Ensuring a tool is aligned to noted areas of importance for people with palliative care needs is important as it feels more in tune with patient and carer needs and more applicable to clinical practice.
Conclusions
Patients with palliative care needs, their carers and clinicians identified one PREM which was preferable for use in the inpatient setting. When tested within an oncology and two general medical wards, this was found to be acceptable to patients and feasible for implementation.