Abstract
Background/aims: National policy makers in England advise a transformative approach to the provision of palliative and end-of-life care that is sustainable, responsive and personalised for all.1 Research plays an important role in achieving these ambitions. Although new knowledge is needed to inform palliative care provision, the evidence produced must be appropriate to the priorities of the communities we serve, and responsive to local challenges and needs.
Our aim was to elicit consensus on palliative care research priorities for the West Midlands region of United Kingdom (UK).
Methods: Rapid interviews were conducted with stakeholders (staff, patients, carers, and citizens) to identify priorities. Subsequently, a tworound online Delphi study was conducted to reach consensus on the highest priorities (rated as ‘high or essential priority’ by ⩾80% of participants) and rank them.
Results: 158 items under 15 broad themes were identified as priorities through rapid interviews with 56 stakeholders. In the 1st Delphi round with 30 participants, seven items reached consensus, focusing on barriers in communication, equity and access, crises’ prevention, social care, and upskilling healthcare staff to provide basic palliative care. The seven items were then ranked by 41 participants in the 2nd Delphi round. The item ‘barriers in communicating end-of-life’ was ranked first by 30% of the participants. However, taking into account the overall ranking scores for each item, ‘integrated care systems to prevent crises’ was ranked higher by most participants.
Conclusions: Identifying priorities for regional palliative and end-of-life care research is a valuable approach to understanding and informing service provision for local communities. The prevention of palliative care crises has been reported as a challenge in the literature and an identified priority for future research in the West Midlands, UK region.
1.www.england.nhs.uk/eolc/what-nhs-england-doing-to-improve-endof-life-care/
Our aim was to elicit consensus on palliative care research priorities for the West Midlands region of United Kingdom (UK).
Methods: Rapid interviews were conducted with stakeholders (staff, patients, carers, and citizens) to identify priorities. Subsequently, a tworound online Delphi study was conducted to reach consensus on the highest priorities (rated as ‘high or essential priority’ by ⩾80% of participants) and rank them.
Results: 158 items under 15 broad themes were identified as priorities through rapid interviews with 56 stakeholders. In the 1st Delphi round with 30 participants, seven items reached consensus, focusing on barriers in communication, equity and access, crises’ prevention, social care, and upskilling healthcare staff to provide basic palliative care. The seven items were then ranked by 41 participants in the 2nd Delphi round. The item ‘barriers in communicating end-of-life’ was ranked first by 30% of the participants. However, taking into account the overall ranking scores for each item, ‘integrated care systems to prevent crises’ was ranked higher by most participants.
Conclusions: Identifying priorities for regional palliative and end-of-life care research is a valuable approach to understanding and informing service provision for local communities. The prevention of palliative care crises has been reported as a challenge in the literature and an identified priority for future research in the West Midlands, UK region.
1.www.england.nhs.uk/eolc/what-nhs-england-doing-to-improve-endof-life-care/
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 227-228 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Palliative Medicine |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 1S |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 7 Jun 2023 |
| Event | 18th EAPC World Congress - Rotterdam, Netherlands Duration: 15 Jun 2023 → 17 Jun 2023 |