'It sort of has the feel of being at home': Mixed-methods evaluation of a pilot community-based palliative end-of-life service in a regional setting.
Tonelle Handley, Christine Jorm, Christine Symington and 4 others
PMID 35749467WHAT IT FOUND
Families and patients described a small regional hospice-like unit as calm, homelike and relieving for carers, but occupancy was low and many had not known the service existed.
Key findings
01Patients and families described the service as homelike, calm and relieving of family care burden.
02Average occupancy was 43%, with monthly rates from 15% to 73%; excluding October and November, occupancy was 35%.
03Awareness of the service was low among families and hospital staff, and most patients learned about it only when asked to transfer.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Only two patients and nine family members were interviewed, and patients or families considered too unwell or distressed were not approached, so patient views may not represent all users. The evaluation had no comparison with the local hospital or supported home palliative care services, so positive views may not be unique to this model. The evaluation was conducted early in a short 12-month trial, so longer-term demand, staffing and service performance were not assessed. Occupancy was low overall and affected by extended stays, so the service's use and sustainability are uncertain.
Declared interests
The Local Health District funded the residential aged care facility to implement and evaluate the 12-month trial. No conflicts of interest declaration is included in the supplied text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the positive comments as proof that this service improves end-of-life care. Only two patients and nine family members were interviewed, patients too unwell or distressed were not approached, and there was no comparison with hospital or home palliative services.