Palliative care as a digital working world (PALLADiUM) - A mixed-method research protocol.

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Healthcare Informatics
• Team Collaboration

Background:

• Palliative Care (PC) teams require effective knowledge exchange despite traditional resistance to digitalization.
• Existing digital solutions often do not meet the specific needs of multi-professional PC teams.
• The PALLADiUM project addresses the need for digital environments to support PC team processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the effectiveness of Palliative Care teams through improved knowledge and information sharing.
• To explore the potential and limitations of digitally supported communication and collaboration in PC.
• To develop a digitalized information and collaboration environment tailored for PC.

Main Methods:

• Employs an iterative mixed-methods approach combining ethnographic studies (observations, interviews, focus groups) and historical hospital data analysis.
• Investigates current knowledge flow, digitalization requirements, and barriers within Palliative Care units.
• Develops a 'to-be' work system and a technical prototype with AI components based on findings.

Main Results:

• Identified key requirements and barriers for digitalization in Palliative Care settings.
• Developed a conceptual framework for a digitally supported work system for multi-professional PC teams.
• The prototype aims to enhance collaborative teamwork and information flow within PC units.

Conclusions:

• PALLADiUM provides crucial insights into the digitalization of medical work environments.
• The project highlights preconditions, processes, and success factors for digital collaboration in multi-professional teams.
• Findings will inform the development of effective digital solutions for Palliative Care.