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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 7/2010

Open Access 01-07-2010 | Original Article

Outcome indicators in palliative care—how to assess quality and success. Focus group and nominal group technique in Germany

Authors: Tania Pastrana, Lukas Radbruch, Friedemann Nauck, Gerhard Höver, Martin Fegg, Martina Pestinger, Josef Roß, Norbert Krumm, Christoph Ostgathe

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 7/2010

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Abstract

Purpose

The call for clinically relevant outcome criteria has been raised, as assessment of adequate quality of service providers is essential with increasing momentum in the development of palliative care in most European countries. The aim of this study is to investigate important dimensions and indicators for assessment and evaluation of palliative care from the perspective of multi-disciplinary German experts working over years in the field of palliative care.

Methods

A focus group, using the structured consensus method of the improved nominal group technique (INGT), with nine experts from different disciplines was conducted in Germany.

Results

An abundance of topics (16) were identified, pointing at the complexity of the issue. Main topics were: quality of life, needs assessments of patients and relatives, resource assessment, surveillance of decision-making processes, as well as spiritual well-being. The following properties were claimed as essential for outcome criteria sensitivity, without additional burden on patients, easy applicability, scientific validity, and helpful for communication within the team, ethical discussions as well as for quality management.

Conclusions

The study identified topics considered important by experts in clinical practise. The discussions exposed the diversity of demands on outcome assessment put up by different stakeholder groups. This and the high number of relevant items show the complexity for the agreement on a unique set of outcome criteria. Further research considering other perspectives is needed.
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Metadata
Title
Outcome indicators in palliative care—how to assess quality and success. Focus group and nominal group technique in Germany
Authors
Tania Pastrana
Lukas Radbruch
Friedemann Nauck
Gerhard Höver
Martin Fegg
Martina Pestinger
Josef Roß
Norbert Krumm
Christoph Ostgathe
Publication date
01-07-2010
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 7/2010
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-009-0721-4

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