CONTEXT: In some countries (the United States in particular), quality indicators for palliative care have already been developed. However, these quality indicators often cover one specific setting or target group, for example, palliative cancer care or palliative home care. OBJECTIVES: This article describes the development and initial testing of a set of quality indicators for palliative care, applicable for all settings in which palliative care is being provided for adult patients in The Netherlands. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the first phase of the project, an inventory was made of existing relevant quality indicators. Most quality indicators focused on the process or outcome of palliative care, and quality indicators for the structure of palliative care were rare. Most of the existing quality indicators fall within the domain of physical care, and very few concern the social and spirituals domains of palliative care. In the second phase, a new draft set of quality indicators was developed. In addition to the previous inventory of existing indicators, interviews with patients, relatives, and caregivers provided input for the development of the draft set. Drafts of the set were tested among experts. In the third phase, the feasibility and usability of a draft set was established in 14 Dutch care organizations providing palliative care. CONCLUSION: As a result of these phases, a set of quality indicators for palliative care has been developed, consisting of 33 indicators for palliative patient care and 10 indicators for support for relatives before and/or after the patient's death.
CONTEXT: In some countries (the United States in particular), quality indicators for palliative care have already been developed. However, these quality indicators often cover one specific setting or target group, for example, palliative cancer care or palliative home care. OBJECTIVES: This article describes the development and initial testing of a set of quality indicators for palliative care, applicable for all settings in which palliative care is being provided for adult patients in The Netherlands. METHODS AND RESULTS: In the first phase of the project, an inventory was made of existing relevant quality indicators. Most quality indicators focused on the process or outcome of palliative care, and quality indicators for the structure of palliative care were rare. Most of the existing quality indicators fall within the domain of physical care, and very few concern the social and spirituals domains of palliative care. In the second phase, a new draft set of quality indicators was developed. In addition to the previous inventory of existing indicators, interviews with patients, relatives, and caregivers provided input for the development of the draft set. Drafts of the set were tested among experts. In the third phase, the feasibility and usability of a draft set was established in 14 Dutch care organizations providing palliative care. CONCLUSION: As a result of these phases, a set of quality indicators for palliative care has been developed, consisting of 33 indicators for palliative patient care and 10 indicators for support for relatives before and/or after the patient's death.
Authors: Kathleen Leemans; Lieve Van den Block; Robert Vander Stichele; Anneke L Francke; Luc Deliens; Joachim Cohen Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2015-04-02 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Arif H Kamal; Margaret Gradison; Jennifer M Maguire; Donald Taylor; Amy P Abernethy Journal: J Oncol Pract Date: 2014-06-10 Impact factor: 3.840
Authors: Arif H Kamal; Janet Bull; Dio Kavalieratos; Jonathan M Nicolla; Laura Roe; Martha Adams; Amy P Abernethy Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2016-06-27 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Maaike L De Roo; Guido Miccinesi; Bregje D Onwuteaka-Philipsen; Nele Van Den Noortgate; Lieve Van den Block; Andrea Bonacchi; Gé A Donker; Jose E Lozano Alonso; Sarah Moreels; Luc Deliens; Anneke L Francke Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-04-08 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Kathleen Leemans; Joachim Cohen; Anneke L Francke; Robert Vander Stichele; Susanne Jj Claessen; Lieve Van den Block; Luc Deliens Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2013-02-08 Impact factor: 3.234
Authors: Natasja Jh Raijmakers; Jolien M Hofstede; Ellen Jm de Nijs; Luc Deliens; Anneke L Francke Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2014-02-21 Impact factor: 3.234