scholarly journals Tools to help healthcare professionals recognize palliative care needs in patients with advanced heart failure: A systematic review

2020 ◽  
pp. 026921632096394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie MC Ament ◽  
Inge ME Couwenberg ◽  
Josiane JJ Boyne ◽  
Jos Kleijnen ◽  
Henri EJH Stoffers ◽  
...  

Background: The delivery of palliative care interventions is not widely integrated in chronic heart failure care as the recognition of palliative care needs is perceived as difficult. Tools may facilitate healthcare professionals to identify patients with palliative care needs in advanced chronic heart failure. Aim: To identify tools to help healthcare professionals recognize palliative care needs in patients with advanced chronic heart failure. Design: This systematic review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42019131896). Evidence of tools’ development, evaluation, feasibility, and implementation was sought and described. Data sources: Electronic searches to identify references of tools published until June 2019 were conducted in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE. Hand-searching of references and citations was undertaken. Based on the identified tools, a second electronic search until September 2019 was performed to check whether all evidence about these tools in the context of chronic heart failure was included. Results: Nineteen studies described a total of seven tools. The tools varied in purpose, intended user and properties. The tools have been validated to a limited extent in the context of chronic heart failure and palliative care. Different health care professionals applied the tools in various settings at different moments of the care process. Guidance and instruction about how to apply the tool revealed to be relevant but may be not enough for uptake. Spiritual care needs were perceived as difficult to assess. Conclusion: Seven tools were identified which showed different and limited levels of validity in the context of palliative care and chronic heart failure.

2022 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. C. Ament ◽  
Lisette M. van den Broek ◽  
Marieke H. J. van den Beuken-van Everdingen ◽  
Josiane J. J. Boyne ◽  
José M. C. Maessen ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Needs assessment tools can facilitate healthcare professionals in timely recognition of palliative care needs. Despite the increased attention for implementation of such tools, most studies provide little or no attention to the context of implementation. The aim of this study was to explore factors that contribute positively and negatively to timely screening of palliative care needs in advanced chronic heart failure. Methods Qualitative study using individual interviews and focus groups with healthcare professionals. The data were analysed using a deductive approach. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used to conceptualise the contextual factors. Results Twenty nine healthcare professionals with different backgrounds and working in heart failure care in the Southern and Eastern parts of the Netherlands participated. Several factors were perceived to play a role, such as perception and knowledge about palliative care, awareness of palliative care needs in advanced chronic heart failure, perceived difficulty when and how to start palliative care, limited acceptance to treatment boundaries in cardiology, limited communication and collaboration between healthcare professionals, and need for education and increased attention for palliative care in advanced chronic heart failure guidelines. Conclusions This study clarified critical factors targeting patients, healthcare professionals, organisations to implement a needs assessment tool for timely recognition of palliative care needs in the context of advanced chronic heart failure. A multifaceted implementation strategy is needed which has attention for education, patient empowerment, interdisciplinary collaboration, identification of local champions, chronic heart failure specific guidelines and culture.


2020 ◽  
pp. 147451512091896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisy JA Janssen ◽  
Stephanie MC Ament ◽  
Josiane Boyne ◽  
Jos MGA Schols ◽  
Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca ◽  
...  

Background Palliative care can improve outcomes for patients with advanced chronic heart failure and their families, but timely recognition of palliative care needs remains challenging. Aim The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of a tool to assess palliative care needs in chronic heart failure that are needed for successful implementation, according to patients, their family and healthcare professionals in The Netherlands. Methods Explorative qualitative study, part of the project ‘Identification of patients with HeARt failure with PC needs’ (I-HARP), focus groups and individual interviews were held with healthcare professionals, patients with chronic heart failure, and family members. Data were analysed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results A total of 13 patients, 10 family members and 26 healthcare professionals participated. Direct-content analysis revealed desired tool characteristics for successful implementation in four constructs: relative advantage, adaptability, complexity, and design quality and packaging. Healthcare professionals indicated that a tool should increase awareness, understanding and knowledge concerning palliative care needs. A tool needs to: be adaptable to different disease stages, facilitate early identification of palliative care needs and ease open conversations about palliative care. The complexity of chronic heart failure should be considered in a personalized approach. Conclusions The current study revealed the characteristics of a tool for timely identification of palliative care needs in chronic heart failure needed for successful implementation. The next steps will be to define the content of the tool, followed by development of a preliminary version and iterative testing of this version by the different stakeholders.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 375-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisy JA Janssen ◽  
Josiane Boyne ◽  
David C Currow ◽  
Jos MGA Schols ◽  
Miriam J Johnson ◽  
...  

Background: The Needs Assessment Tool: Progressive Disease – Heart Failure (NAT:PD-HF) was developed to identify and triage palliative care needs in patients with chronic heart failure. A Dutch version is currently lacking. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a Dutch NAT:PD-HF in chronic heart failure outpatients; and to gain preliminary data regarding the effect of the NAT:PD-HF on palliative care referral, symptoms, health status, care dependency, caregiver burden and advance directives. Methods: A mixed methods study including 23 outpatients with advanced chronic heart failure and 20 family caregivers was performed. Nurses conducted patient consultations using a Dutch translation of the NAT:PD-HF and rated acceptability. Before this visit and 4 months later, symptoms, health status, performance status, care dependency, caregiver burden and recorded advance directives were assessed. A focus group with participating nurses discussed barriers and facilitators towards palliative care needs assessment. Results: Acceptability was rated as 7 (interquartile range 6–7 points) on a 10-point scale. All patients had palliative care needs. In 48% actions were taken, including two patients referred to palliative care. Symptoms, performance status, care dependency, caregiver burden and advance directives were unchanged at 4 months, while health status deteriorated in patients completing follow-up ( n=17). Barriers towards palliative care needs assessment included feeling uncomfortable to initiate discussions and concerns about the ability to address palliative care needs. Conclusions: The NAT:PD-HF identified palliative care needs in all participants, and triggered action to address these in half. However, training in palliative care communication skills as well as palliative care interventions should accompany the introduction of a palliative care needs assessment tool. Netherlands National Trial Register (NTR): 5616. http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp?TC=5616


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisy J.A. Janssen ◽  
Miriam J. Johnson ◽  
Martijn A. Spruit

2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 385-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy Selman ◽  
Richard Harding ◽  
Teresa Beynon ◽  
Fiona Hodson ◽  
Caroline Hazeldine ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Finucane ◽  
Connie Swenson ◽  
John I. MacArtney ◽  
Rachel Perry ◽  
Hazel Lamberton ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Specialist palliative care (SPC) providers tend to use the term ‘complex’ to refer to the needs of patients who require SPC. However, little is known about complex needs on first referral to a SPC service. We examined which needs are present and sought the perspectives of healthcare professionals on the complexity of need on referral to a hospice service. Methods Multi-site sequential explanatory mixed method study consisting of a case-note review and focus groups with healthcare professionals in four UK hospices. Results Documentation relating to 239 new patient referrals to hospice was reviewed; and focus groups involving 22 healthcare professionals conducted. Most patients had two or more needs documented on referral (96%); and needs were recorded across two or more domains for 62%. Physical needs were recorded for 91% of patients; psychological needs were recorded for 59%. Spiritual needs were rarely documented. Referral forms were considered limited for capturing complex needs. Referrals were perceived to be influenced by the experience and confidence of the referrer and the local resource available to meet palliative care needs directly. Conclusions Complexity was hard to detail or to objectively define on referral documentation alone. It appeared to be a term used to describe patients whom primary or secondary care providers felt needed SPC knowledge or support to meet their needs. Hospices need to provide greater clarity regarding who should be referred, when and for what purpose. Education and training in palliative care for primary care nurses and doctors and hospital clinicians could reduce the need for referral and help ensure that hospices are available to those most in need of SPC input.


2005 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-64
Author(s):  
Sarah Young ◽  
Jan McFadyen ◽  
Ann Gibbins ◽  
Carolyn Kenny ◽  
Sheila Boyer ◽  
...  

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