Bereaved family members’ assessments of the quality of end-of-life care: what is important?

Source:  Journal of Palliative Care, 01 December 2011, 27, (4), p.261-269

Follow this link for fulltext

Date of publication: December 2011

Publication type: Article

In a nutshell: Using qualitative interview data, this study identifies what is important to families of patients who have received end of life care.  The study indicates that care-givers need to distinguish between :

•           perceived substantive or tangible features of received care

•           interpretations of the causes and symbolic meanings of that care

•           personal and affective outcomes

The authors encourage

•           practitioners to develop understanding of how their behaviours are interpreted by families

•           organisations to support improvements in practice and decision making at all levels in order to facilitate better experiences for patients and families.

Length of publication: 9 pages

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library

Acknowledgement: Cinahl

What are patients’ priorities when facing the end of life? A critical review.

Source: International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 2011,17 (6), p.294-300

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Date of publication: June 2011

Publication type: Review, Article

In a nutshell:  The objective of this critical review was to investigate what patients’ priorities are when facing the end of life. A methodical and explicit search was made of academic databases to identify key articles. These articles were then critically appraised and the data was extracted and anylsed using an appropriate methodology. Findings showed that patients wanted:

• to understand and accept their changing health status

• to retain some normality in life

• to be supported by friends and family

• to know they will be taken care of after the death

• good and trusting relationships with health professionals.

Length of publication: 7 pages

Some important notes:

Some important notes: Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement: BNI

Webinar – Coordinated services for End of Life Care 3.2.11 13:00

Source:  Department of Health

Date of event:  3rd February 2011 at 1pm.

In a nutshell:  This webinar is facilitated by Sophia Christie, DH Lead for the Quality, Innovation, Productivity & Presentation End of Life Care Workstream.  It is aimed at GP Commissioners, PCT and Community Professionals and members of the public who are interested in discovering how social care and health professionals can develop partnerships to improve care for patients with long-term conditions. 

Some important notes:  

• Click here to register for the event. 
• The event reference number is 842 543 942 
• The password is QIPP123. 
• Dial in number is 0800 028 1181

Acknowledgement: National End of Life Care Programme

Problems and challenges for palliative care: What are the views of different stakeholders on the meso and macro level of the health system

Title: Problems and challenges for palliative care: What are the views of different stakeholders on the meso and macro level of the health system?

Source: Health Policy 2009,  93(1) p11-20

Follow this link for abstract

Date of Publication: November 2009

In a nutshell: This article examines the views of a wide range of representatives from organizations and institutions at the meso and macro level of the health system regarding palliative care in Germany. Using a questionnaire the main topics investigated included the most recent health care reform, quality in palliative care and living wills.

Length of Publication: 10 pages

Some important notes: Contact you local health library for a copy of this article. Follow this link to locate you local health library.

Acknowledgement: CINAHL

Consultation on the Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy for adults in Northern Ireland.

Title:  Consultation on the Palliative and End of Life Care Strategy for adults in Northern Ireland.

Source: Northern Ireland Executive Dept of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Follow this link for the Public Consultation document in full text.

Follow this link for the Consultation Response questionnaire (pdf format).

Date of publication: December 2009

Publication type: News item.

In a nutshell:  The draft 5 year Strategy intends to ensure that everyone, from diagnosis to the advanced noncurative stage of disease, lives and dies well irrespective of their condition or care setting. It provides a vision and direction for service planning and delivery and considers current and predicted demographics, available intelligence and the results of existing consultation which have informed the implementation of other policy areas, Service Frameworks, and Priorities for Action Targets.  It also takes into account policy context from the wider UK and the Republic of Ireland.  Views are sought from all stakeholders by the deadline of 19.02.10.

Length of publication: The Public Consultation document is 95 pages, the Consultation Response questionnaire is 13 pages.

Acknowledgement: Omega, The National Association for End of Life Care

Key stakeholders’ experiences and views of the NHS End of Life Care Programme: findings from a national evaluation.

Source:  Palliative Medicine, 2009, 23/4, p.283-294   02692163

Follow this link for abstract.

Date of publication:  June 2009

Publication type:  Article.

In a nutshell: This article reports on the qualitative component of a national evaluation of the NHS End of Life Care Programme involving a range of stakeholders and focussing on implementation, impact and sustainability.  Positive results are discussed in the light of widely shared concerns about sustainability and this is discussed in light of the recently launched End of Life Care strategy.

Length of publication:  12 pages.

Some important notes:  Please contact your local NHS Library for the full text of the article. Follow this link to find your local NHS Library.

Acknowledgement:  NHS Evidence.

“Good idea but not feasible” – the views of decision makers and stakeholders towards strategies for better palliative care in Germany: a representative survey

Author: Sara L Lueckmann et al

Source: BMC Palliative Care

In a nutshell: Statements on potential measures to improve palliative care in Germany predominantly reflect the points of view of experts from specialized palliative care organizations. By contrast, relatively little is known about the views of representatives of organizations and institutions that do not explicitly specialize in palliative care, but are involved to a relevant extent in the decision-making and policy-making processes.

Article Length: 22 pages

Click here to link to full-text article

Key stakeholders’ experiences and views of the NHS End of Life Care Programme: findings from a national evaluation

Title: Key stakeholders’ experiences and views of the NHS End of Life Care Programme: findings from a national evaluation

Author: Kennedy, S. et al

Source: Palliative Medicine Vol. 23 No. 4 p283-294

In a nutshell: This article reports on the qualitative interview component of a national evaluation of the NHS End of Life Care Programme. It describes and discusses the views and experiences of 37 stakeholders of the Programme in relation to its development and implementation, impact and sustainability.

Notes: Contact your local health Library for assistance in obtaining this article