Practices, issues and possibilities at the interface between geriatrics and palliative care (InGaP): A case study...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Palliative Care
• Health Services Research
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Growing recognition of palliative care needs for non-malignant conditions in older adults.
• Increasing emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration between geriatric and palliative care teams.
• Need to understand current working practices in this evolving field for policy and clinical relevance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore current interdisciplinary working practices between geriatric and palliative care teams.
• To identify examples of successful collaboration and areas for improvement in end-of-life care for older patients.
• To gather patient and carer perceptions on clarity of care provision.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative case study conducted in a London NHS Trust.
• 30 semi-structured interviews with palliative care and geriatric medical/nursing staff.
• 5 interviews with patients and 2 with carers, thematically analyzed.

Main Results:

• Participants reported positive collaboration, citing effective referral processes and inter-team communication.
• Areas for development include embedding palliative care in ward meetings, ongoing staff education, and improved allied health professional collaboration.
• Patient and carer awareness of team roles and potential impact on care clarity remains unclear.

Conclusions:

• Evidence of strong collaborative working exists, with identified potential for enhancement.
• Further exploration in diverse settings is necessary to validate findings.
• Results aim to inform national guidelines and policy for improved end-of-life care for older populations.