Developing and Evaluating a Care Pathway for Improving Palliative Care in Western Norway

Background: To operationalize the palliative care approach and improve care across services, a palliative care pathway (PCP) was developed in Western Norway. The PCP is an evidence-based framework for palliative care assessment and interventions in the form of a web-based flowchart. Measures: An electronic questionnaire aimed at health care professionals (HCPs) examined perceived usability and content. We registered PCP webpage activity and conducted an evaluation seminar and group interviews. Intervention: The pathway was developed (2015) and piloted in two cities (2017-2018/2020). Outcomes: HCPs perceived that the PCP contributed to increased palliative care knowledge and skills and worked as a reference and educational tool. They found the PCP easily accessible but asked for a search option and easier webpage navigation. Conclusions/Lessons Learned: An available PCP can support a common language for palliative care in different settings and enhance patient-centered care. HCPs need time to familiarize themselves with its content and use.