Projects per year
Abstract
Aims Evaluation of quality of palliative care is an important condition to optimize and improve care. This study aims to develop a comprehensive set of quality indicators to monitor the quality of palliative care in Flanders, Belgium.
Methods An extensive literature review led to the identification of 337 national and international quality indicators, divided into 9 domains and 154 themes. In accordance with the systematic RAND-method (combining scientific evidence with consensus among stakeholders), we organized 2 consecutive multidisciplinary palliative care expert panels, a first one to identify and select the themes most important to palliative care, and a second one to assess a list of quality indicators within those selected themes in terms of importance and necessity.
Results The first panel of experts selected 57 important themes within 9 domains: 1) physical treatment and care, 2) psychological, social and spiritual treatment and care,3) information, communication, planning and decision making with patients, 4) with family and 5) with other caregivers, 6) type of care at the end of life, 7) coordination and continuity of care, 8) support for family, and 9) structure of care. The assessment of all indicators on importance and necessity occurred via an assignment at home followed by a joint panel discussion where indicators could be modified or added. The second panel of experts withheld 57 indicators within these themes. For a number of domains within palliative care such as spiritual and social care and coordination of care, the existence of good quality indicators in the literature appears scarce.
Conclusion Literature review and expert panels lead to the selection of 57 indicators to measure quality of palliative care in Flanders across 9 domains of palliative care. This set of quality indicators now will be tested and evaluated in practice, in order to eventually implement the set safeguarding an adequate monitoring of the quality of end-of-life care.
Methods An extensive literature review led to the identification of 337 national and international quality indicators, divided into 9 domains and 154 themes. In accordance with the systematic RAND-method (combining scientific evidence with consensus among stakeholders), we organized 2 consecutive multidisciplinary palliative care expert panels, a first one to identify and select the themes most important to palliative care, and a second one to assess a list of quality indicators within those selected themes in terms of importance and necessity.
Results The first panel of experts selected 57 important themes within 9 domains: 1) physical treatment and care, 2) psychological, social and spiritual treatment and care,3) information, communication, planning and decision making with patients, 4) with family and 5) with other caregivers, 6) type of care at the end of life, 7) coordination and continuity of care, 8) support for family, and 9) structure of care. The assessment of all indicators on importance and necessity occurred via an assignment at home followed by a joint panel discussion where indicators could be modified or added. The second panel of experts withheld 57 indicators within these themes. For a number of domains within palliative care such as spiritual and social care and coordination of care, the existence of good quality indicators in the literature appears scarce.
Conclusion Literature review and expert panels lead to the selection of 57 indicators to measure quality of palliative care in Flanders across 9 domains of palliative care. This set of quality indicators now will be tested and evaluated in practice, in order to eventually implement the set safeguarding an adequate monitoring of the quality of end-of-life care.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | European Journal of Palliative Care |
Pages | 172-172 |
Number of pages | 1 |
Publication status | Published - 2011 |
Event | Unknown - Duration: 1 Jan 2011 → … |
Publication series
Name | 12th congress of the European association for Palliative Care |
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Conference
Conference | Unknown |
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Period | 1/01/11 → … |
Keywords
- end of life care
- quality indicators
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Development of quality indicators for palliative care in Belgium'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
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IWT323: Monitoring the quality of end-of-life care in Flanders (MELC-study)
Leemans, K., Deliens, L., Bilsen, J., Cohen, J., Van den Block, L., Meeussen, K., Chambaere, K., Smets, T., Houttekier, D., Pousset, G. & Van Wesemael, Y.
1/09/06 → 31/08/10
Project: Fundamental
Activities
- 1 Participation in conference
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12th Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care
Kathleen Leemans (Participant)
18 May 2011 → 21 May 2011Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in conference