Evaluating a pilot paediatric hospice-at-home service: a literature review

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Program Evaluation
• Pediatric Healthcare

Background:

• Literature review on designing evaluations for pediatric hospice-at-home pilot programs.
• Examined existing literature in pediatric palliative care.
• Explored adult palliative care for evaluation tool design insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide practitioners with an overview of key components for evaluating a pediatric hospice-at-home pilot.
• To assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the program.
• To highlight the role and impact of each component on integrated care delivery.

Main Methods:

• Two-stage literature review process.
• Stage 1: Focused on pediatric palliative care literature.
• Stage 2: Expanded to adult palliative care literature for evaluation insights.

Main Results:

• A conceptual model was developed to illustrate pilot development stages for evaluation.
• The model emphasizes each component's role and impact on integrated care.
• Findings highlight clarity and transparency in the evaluation process.

Conclusions:

• The conceptual model offers a comprehensive overview for all pilot stakeholders.
• Effective evaluation design is crucial for successful pediatric hospice-at-home programs.
• The findings support the development of sustainable and efficient integrated care models.