Abstract
Background
Quality of palliative care is of interest to everyone receiving or delivering it. Quality indicators are defined as measurable aspects of care referring to structure, process, or outcome and are mostly measured on individual level but interpreted aggregated, e.g. service level. Quality indicator scores can be used to evaluate which aspects of the care are going well and which are not going so well and have room for improvement.
Aim
To develop a comprehensive quality indicator set reflecting the multidisciplinary and multifaceted character of palliative care.
Methods and results
The study involved a 3-step development process, resulting in a minimal indicator set and 3 optional thematic modules that can be used to monitor and improve the quality of palliative care within the specialized palliative care services in Flanders, Belgium. In a first step the quality indicator set was developed by means of a systematic literature review and an expert panel. Second, the comprehensive quality indicator set was tested for feasibility and usefulness in 9 specialized palliative care services by using a mixed-methods design. Overall the caregivers found the indicator set and measurement procedure feasible and useful. Based on this testing, the set and measurement procedure were fine-tuned and an expert panel was organized to select a minimal indicator set for quick and efficient quality monitoring. Last, barriers and facilitators were identified for implementation of the quality indicators into palliative care services in Flanders.
Discussion
We managed to develop a comprehensive quality indicator set for the field of palliative care with accompanying measurement procedure that is feasible for caregivers to work with. Although the quality indicator set is ready to be used by the specialized palliative care services to internally monitor and improve the quality of care, further research is necessary to validate the indicator set for large populations and to measure its effect on patient and family outcomes.
Quality of palliative care is of interest to everyone receiving or delivering it. Quality indicators are defined as measurable aspects of care referring to structure, process, or outcome and are mostly measured on individual level but interpreted aggregated, e.g. service level. Quality indicator scores can be used to evaluate which aspects of the care are going well and which are not going so well and have room for improvement.
Aim
To develop a comprehensive quality indicator set reflecting the multidisciplinary and multifaceted character of palliative care.
Methods and results
The study involved a 3-step development process, resulting in a minimal indicator set and 3 optional thematic modules that can be used to monitor and improve the quality of palliative care within the specialized palliative care services in Flanders, Belgium. In a first step the quality indicator set was developed by means of a systematic literature review and an expert panel. Second, the comprehensive quality indicator set was tested for feasibility and usefulness in 9 specialized palliative care services by using a mixed-methods design. Overall the caregivers found the indicator set and measurement procedure feasible and useful. Based on this testing, the set and measurement procedure were fine-tuned and an expert panel was organized to select a minimal indicator set for quick and efficient quality monitoring. Last, barriers and facilitators were identified for implementation of the quality indicators into palliative care services in Flanders.
Discussion
We managed to develop a comprehensive quality indicator set for the field of palliative care with accompanying measurement procedure that is feasible for caregivers to work with. Although the quality indicator set is ready to be used by the specialized palliative care services to internally monitor and improve the quality of care, further research is necessary to validate the indicator set for large populations and to measure its effect on patient and family outcomes.
| Original language | English |
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| Qualification | Doctor of Social Health Sciences |
| Awarding Institution |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 3 Oct 2014 |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 9789090285856 |
| Publication status | Published - 3 Oct 2014 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Quality indicators to improve palliative care in Flanders, Belgium. Development, evaluation and implementation strategy (FLIECE)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Projects
- 1 Finished
-
IWT534: FLanders study to Improve End-of-life Care and Evaluation tools – FLIECE
De Vleminck, A. (Collaborator), Beernaert, K. (Collaborator), Reyniers, T. (Collaborator), Verhofstede, R. (Collaborator), Cohen, J. (Collaborator), Leemans, K. (Collaborator), Deliens, L. (Administrative Promotor), Deliens, L. (Coördinator), Mortier, F. (Co-Promotor), Van Audenhove, C. (Co-Promotor) & Onwuteaka-Philipsen, B. (Co-Promotor)
1/03/11 → 28/02/15
Project: Fundamental
Research output
- 7 Article
-
Systematic Quality Monitoring For Specialized Palliative Care Services: Development of a Minimal Set of Quality Indicators for Palliative Care Study (QPAC)
Leemans, K., Deliens, L., Van den Block, L., Vander Stichele, R., Francke, A. L. & Cohen, J., Jul 2017, In: American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. 34, 6, p. 532-546 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
20 Citations (Scopus) -
How to implement quality indicators successfully in palliative care services: perceptions of team members about facilitators of and barriers to implementation
Leemans, K., Van den Block, L., Vander Stichele, R., Francke, A. L., Deliens, L. & Cohen, J., Dec 2015, In: Supportive Care in Cancer. 23, 12, p. 3503-3511 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
20 Citations (Scopus) -
Quality indicators for palliative care services: mixed-method study testing for face validity, feasibility, discriminative power and usefulness
Leemans, K., Deliens, L., Francke, A. L., Vander Stichele, R., Van den Block, L. & Cohen, J., Jan 2015, In: Palliative Medicine. 29, 1, p. 71-82 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
26 Citations (Scopus)
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