Palliative care consultation team on acute wards-an intervention study with pre-post comparisons

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Healthcare Management
• Palliative Care Research

Background:

• Limited evidence exists on primary healthcare team members' perceptions of palliative care consultation teams (PCCTs) and palliative care (PC) in acute wards.
• Understanding these perceptions is crucial for optimizing end-of-life care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if a PCCT can influence and alter primary healthcare team members' perceptions of end-of-life palliative care provided in acute hospital settings.
• To assess the impact of a PCCT intervention on the attitudes and beliefs of healthcare professionals regarding palliative care.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-intervention assessments was employed over one year.
• A PCCT provided consultations to surgical and internal medicine wards.
• Questionnaires were administered to all primary healthcare team members across three acute wards.

Main Results:

• A total of 252 healthcare professionals participated (132 pre-intervention, 120 post-intervention).
• Significant improvements were observed in 11 out of 12 statements regarding palliative care perceptions after the intervention.
• Perceptions varied by profession and the number of dying patients cared for, with key areas including "break point" dialogues, early detection of death, symptom relief, and psychosocial support.

Conclusions:

• It is feasible to modify primary healthcare team members' perceptions of end-of-life care through targeted interventions.
• Palliative care consultation teams should be integrated into settings where dying patients receive care.