Development of a tool for palliative care needs assessment and intervention : mixed methods research at a Swiss tertiary oncology clinic

Domeisen Benedetti, Franzisca; Fringer, André; Attoun-Knobel, Suzanne; Schmidt, Ellie B.; Strasser, Florian; Schlögl, Mathias; Blum, David

doi:10.21037/apm-22-994

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-27399

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Open peer review
Title:	Development of a tool for palliative care needs assessment and intervention : mixed methods research at a Swiss tertiary oncology clinic
Authors:	Domeisen Benedetti, Franzisca Fringer, André Attoun-Knobel, Suzanne Schmidt, Ellie B. Strasser, Florian Schlögl, Mathias Blum, David
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.21037/apm-22-994 10.21256/zhaw-27399
Published in:	Annals of Palliative Medicine
Volume(Issue):	12
Issue:	3
Page(s):	496
Pages to:	506
Issue Date:	2023
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	AME Publishing
ISSN:	2224-5820 2224-5839
Language:	English
Subjects:	Palliative care; Medical oncology; Needs assessment
Subject (DDC):	610.73: Nursing
Abstract:	Background: Palliative care interventions improve quality-of-life for advanced cancer patients and their caregivers. The frequency and quality of service provision could be improved by a clinical tool that helps oncology professionals to assess unmet needs for palliative care interventions and to structure the interventions delivered. This paper aims to answer the following research question: what do oncology professionals and cancer patients view as important elements in a clinical tool for assessing unmet palliative care needs? Based on the feedback from professionals and patients, we developed and refined an intervention-focused clinical tool for use in cancer care. Methods: This study used a prospective convergent mixed methods design and was carried out at a single tertiary hospital in Switzerland. Healthcare professionals participated in focus groups (n=29) and a Delphi survey (n=73). Patients receiving palliative care were interviewed (n=17). Purposive sampling was used to achieve maximal variation in participant response. Inductive content analysis and descriptive statistics were used to analyze focus group discussions, open-ended survey questions and interview data. Descriptive statistics were used for analyzing quantitative survey items and interviewee characteristics. Results: Focus groups and Delphi surveys showed that seven key palliative care interventions were important to oncology professionals. They also valued a tool that could be used by doctors, nurses, or other professionals. Participants did not agree about the best timepoint for assessment. Two versions of a pilot clinical tool were tested in patient interviews. Interviews highlighted the divergent patient needs that must be accommodated in clinical practice. Patients provided confirmation that a clinical tool would be helpful to them. Conclusions: This paper reports on research carried out to understand what elements are most important in a tool that helps oncology professionals to identify patients’ unmet needs and provide tailored palliative care interventions. This study demonstrated that professionals and patients alike are interested in a clinical tool. Responses from oncology healthcare professionals helped to identify relevant palliative care interventions, and patients provided constructive input used in designing a tool for use in clinical interactions.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/27399
Fulltext version:	Published version
License (according to publishing contract):	CC BY-NC-ND 4.0: Attribution - Non commercial - No derivatives 4.0 International
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Nursing (IPF)
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Domeisen Benedetti, F., Fringer, A., Attoun-Knobel, S., Schmidt, E. B., Strasser, F., Schlögl, M., & Blum, D. (2023). Development of a tool for palliative care needs assessment and intervention : mixed methods research at a Swiss tertiary oncology clinic. Annals of Palliative Medicine, 12(3), 496–506. https://doi.org/10.21037/apm-22-994

Domeisen Benedetti, F. et al. (2023) ‘Development of a tool for palliative care needs assessment and intervention : mixed methods research at a Swiss tertiary oncology clinic’, Annals of Palliative Medicine, 12(3), pp. 496–506. Available at: https://doi.org/10.21037/apm-22-994.

F. Domeisen Benedetti et al., “Development of a tool for palliative care needs assessment and intervention : mixed methods research at a Swiss tertiary oncology clinic,” Annals of Palliative Medicine, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 496–506, 2023, doi: 10.21037/apm-22-994.

DOMEISEN BENEDETTI, Franzisca, André FRINGER, Suzanne ATTOUN-KNOBEL, Ellie B. SCHMIDT, Florian STRASSER, Mathias SCHLÖGL und David BLUM, 2023. Development of a tool for palliative care needs assessment and intervention : mixed methods research at a Swiss tertiary oncology clinic. Annals of Palliative Medicine. 2023. Bd. 12, Nr. 3, S. 496–506. DOI 10.21037/apm-22-994

Domeisen Benedetti, Franzisca, André Fringer, Suzanne Attoun-Knobel, Ellie B. Schmidt, Florian Strasser, Mathias Schlögl, and David Blum. 2023. “Development of a Tool for Palliative Care Needs Assessment and Intervention : Mixed Methods Research at a Swiss Tertiary Oncology Clinic.” Annals of Palliative Medicine 12 (3): 496–506. https://doi.org/10.21037/apm-22-994.

Domeisen Benedetti, Franzisca, et al. “Development of a Tool for Palliative Care Needs Assessment and Intervention : Mixed Methods Research at a Swiss Tertiary Oncology Clinic.” Annals of Palliative Medicine, vol. 12, no. 3, 2023, pp. 496–506, https://doi.org/10.21037/apm-22-994.