Specialist palliative day care : patients' perspectives

Bradley, Sarah Elizabeth

Abstract

This portfolio has three parts.

Part one is a systematic literature review entitled ‘Patients' Psychosocial Experiences of Attending Specialist Palliative Day Care: A Systematic Literature Review’. Recent reviews conclude that the benefits of attending Specialist Palliative Day Care are likely to be in the social, psychological and spiritual domains. However these areas are not easily identified, leaving researchers and practitioners unclear as to what aspects of these domains patients most need and desire. The objective of this review was to systematically evaluate literature on patient perceived psychosocial experiences of attendance at SPDC. Twelve studies were included. Evidence showed that patients value a person-centred approach which reduces isolation, increases social support, encourages communication and provides activities. Future research could focus on investigating why patients value the psychosocial experiences reported in this review and how these experiences can be defined in a way that would be meaningful to clinical service commissioners. Once this has been done, clinicians can start to measure clinical effectiveness and devise justifiable interventions for this patient group.

Part two is a qualitative study, using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore patients’ perspective of attending SPDC. The importance of services helping patients cope with terminal illness has been emphasised throughout Department of Health (2000) and NICE (2004) cancer guidance. However, whether or not services are achieving this aim has been sparsely researched to date; particularly in relation to Specialist Palliative Day Care (SPDC). Eleven semi-structured interviews were carried out and analysed utilising qualitative methodology (Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis – IPA) to allow for an in depth investigation of SPDC. Emerging themes suggest that SPDC provides an environment in which patients are helped to cope by facilitation of acceptance of the reality of death, thereby freeing them to focus on 'life'. The study does not claim to provide the definitive answer to what processes may underpin attendance at SPDC, however in such an under researched area it provides a much needed exploration which can be built upon or challenged by future research.

Part three comprises appendices relating to the research. This includes a reflective statement on the process of conducting the research, the challenges faced and the lessons learnt.

Citation

Bradley, S. E. (2009). Specialist palliative day care : patients' perspectives. (Thesis). University of Hull. Retrieved from https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4210932

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Aug 16, 2011
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 22, 2023
• Keywords: Medicine; Palliative treatment
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4210932
• Additional Information: Postgraduate Medical Institute, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Jun 1, 2009