Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2025
A core outcome set for best care for the dying person: Results of an international Delphi study and consensus meeting.
Outcome measurement is essential to progress clinical practice and improve patient care. ⋯ This study involved a large and diverse sample of key stakeholders in defining the core outcome set for best care for the dying person, focusing on the last days of life. By actively integrating the perspectives of family carers and patient representatives from various cultural backgrounds this Core Outcome Set enriches our understanding of essential elements of care for the dying and provides a solid foundation for advancing quality of end-of-life care.
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2025
Feasibility and acceptability of the brief patient-reported experience measure consideRATE within the hospital setting for patients with palliative care needs, their families/carers and clinicians.
Supporting clinical teams to improve care for inpatients with palliative care needs and their carers is a known priority. Patient reported experience measures (PREMs) may assist in improvement work. Evidence about how to collect and feedback PREM data for this population and context is required. ⋯ It is feasible to implement consideRATE for inpatients with palliative care needs. Clinicians note consideRATE data is acceptable in informing improvement foci.
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Palliative medicine · Jan 2025
Multiple points of system failure underpin continuous subcutaneous infusion safety incidents in palliative care: A mixed methods analysis.
About 25% of palliative medication incidents involve continuous subcutaneous infusions. Complex structural and human factor issues make these risk-prone interventions. Detailed analysis of how this safety-critical care can be improved has not been undertaken. Understanding context, contributory factors and events leading to incidents is essential. ⋯ System infrastructure is needed to enable timely supply of medication and equipment, effective coordinated use of continuous subcutaneous infusions, communication and continuity of care. Training is needed to improve incident descriptions so these pinpoint precise targets for safer care.