Akihiro Sakashita1, Yoshiyuki Kizawa2, Masashi Kato3, Nobuya Akizuki4, Yoko Nakazawa3, Mikiko Kaizu5, Kazumi Yano6, Tetsumi Sato7, Akihiro Tokoro8. 1. Department of Palliative Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. Electronic address: meidai@med.kobe-u.ac.jp. 2. Department of Palliative Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. 3. Division of Medical Support and Partnership, Center for Cancer Control and Information Services, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan. 4. Psycho-Oncology Division, Chiba Cancer Center, Chiba, Japan. 5. Graduate School of Health Management, Doctoral Program, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. 6. Tokyo Teishin Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. 7. Division of Palliative Medicine, Shizuoka Cancer Center Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan. 8. Department of Psychosomatic Internal Medicine and Supportive and Palliative Care Team, National Hospital Organization Kinki-Chuo Chest Medical Center, Osaka, Japan.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Hospital-based palliative care consultation teams (PCCTs) are rapidly being disseminated throughout Japan. The roles of PCCTs have changed during the past decade, particularly with the introduction of a modified national cancer care act to promote early palliative care and integrated oncology and palliative care. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop a consultation team standard for hospital-based palliative care in Japan. METHODS: We developed a provisional standard based on literature review and used a modified questionnaire-based Delphi method. Our Delphi panel comprises 20 experts selected from all relevant disciplines. RESULTS: All experts selected responded to the surveys over all rounds, and 14 of the 20 participated in the panel meeting. In the first round, 79 of 109 statements were judged to be appropriate, and 30 of 109 statements led to disagreements. About 16 of those 30 statements underwent minor revision, 1 was divided into two statements, and 13 remained unchanged. We then added six statements based on a discussion among participants and authors. In addition, based on comments from an external reviewer, we revised the standard, resulting in four statements being combined into two for a new total of 114 statements. In the second round, 108 of 114 statements were judged to be appropriate, and in the third round, none of the six controversial statements were judged to be appropriate. The final version comprises 108 statements. CONCLUSION: We developed a standard for PCCTs in Japanese cancer hospitals. This standard provides a useful guide for clinical activities and a tool to evaluate quality of palliative care.
CONTEXT: Hospital-based palliative care consultation teams (PCCTs) are rapidly being disseminated throughout Japan. The roles of PCCTs have changed during the past decade, particularly with the introduction of a modified national cancer care act to promote early palliative care and integrated oncology and palliative care. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to develop a consultation team standard for hospital-based palliative care in Japan. METHODS: We developed a provisional standard based on literature review and used a modified questionnaire-based Delphi method. Our Delphi panel comprises 20 experts selected from all relevant disciplines. RESULTS: All experts selected responded to the surveys over all rounds, and 14 of the 20 participated in the panel meeting. In the first round, 79 of 109 statements were judged to be appropriate, and 30 of 109 statements led to disagreements. About 16 of those 30 statements underwent minor revision, 1 was divided into two statements, and 13 remained unchanged. We then added six statements based on a discussion among participants and authors. In addition, based on comments from an external reviewer, we revised the standard, resulting in four statements being combined into two for a new total of 114 statements. In the second round, 108 of 114 statements were judged to be appropriate, and in the third round, none of the six controversial statements were judged to be appropriate. The final version comprises 108 statements. CONCLUSION: We developed a standard for PCCTs in Japanese cancer hospitals. This standard provides a useful guide for clinical activities and a tool to evaluate quality of palliative care.