Which outcome domains are important in palliative care and when? An international expert consensus workshop, using the nominal group technique

de Wolf-Linder, Susanne; Dawkins, Marsha; Wicks, Francesca; Pask, Sophie; Eagar, Kathy; Evans, Catherine J.; Higginson, Irene J.; Murtagh, Fliss E.M.

Abstract

© The Author(s) 2019. Background: When capturing patient-level outcomes in palliative care, it is essential to identify which outcome domains are most important and focus efforts to capture these, in order to improve quality of care and minimise collection burden. Aim: To determine which domains of palliative care are most important for measurement of outcomes, and the optimal time period over which these should be measured. Design: An international expert consensus workshop using nominal group technique. Data were analysed descriptively, and weighted according to ranking (1–5, lowest to highest priority) of domains. Participants’ rationales for their choices were analysed thematically. Setting/participants: In all, 33 clinicians and researchers working globally in palliative care outcome measurement participated. Two groups (n = 16; n = 17) answered one question each (either on domains or optimal timing). This workshop was conducted at the 9th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care in 2016. Results: Participants’ years of experience in palliative care and in outcome measurement ranged from 10.9 to 14.7 years and 5.8 to 6.4 years, respectively. The mean scores (weighted by rank) for the top-ranked domains were ‘overall wellbeing/quality of life’ (2.75), ‘pain’ (2.06), and ‘information needs/preferences’ (2.06), respectively. The palliative measure ‘Phase of Illness’ was recommended as the preferred measure of time period over which the domains were measured. Conclusion: The domains of ‘overall wellbeing/quality of life’, ‘pain’, and ‘information needs/preferences’ are recommended for regular measurement, assessed using ‘Phase of Illness’. International adoption of these recommendations will help standardise approaches to improving the quality of palliative care.

Citation

de Wolf-Linder, S., Dawkins, M., Wicks, F., Pask, S., Eagar, K., Evans, C. J., Higginson, I. J., & Murtagh, F. E. (in press). Which outcome domains are important in palliative care and when? An international expert consensus workshop, using the nominal group technique. Palliative medicine, 026921631985415. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216319854154

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 21, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jun 12, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jun 14, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 14, 2019
• Journal: Palliative Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0269-2163
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 026921631985415
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216319854154
• Keywords: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine; General Medicine
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/1990582
• Contract Date: Jun 14, 2019