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BMC Primary Care
Published in: BMC Primary Care 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Care | Research article

Frequency of providing a palliative approach to care in family practice: a chart review and perceptions of healthcare practitioners in Canada

Authors: Erin Gallagher, Daniel Carter-Ramirez, Kaitlyn Boese, Samantha Winemaker, Amanda MacLennan, Nicolle Hansen, Abe Hafid, Michelle Howard

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

Most patients nearing the end of life can benefit from a palliative approach in primary care. We currently do not know how to measure a palliative approach in family practice. The objective of this study was to describe the provision of a palliative approach and evaluate clinicians’ perceptions of the results.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive study of deceased patients in an interprofessional team family practice. We integrated conceptual models of a palliative approach to create a chart review tool to capture a palliative approach in the last year of life and assessed a global rating of whether a palliative approach was provided. Clinicians completed a questionnaire before learning the results and after, on perceptions of how often they believed a palliative approach was provided by the team.

Results

Among 79 patients (mean age at death 73 years, 54% female) cancer and cardiac diseases were the top conditions responsible for death. One-quarter of patients were assessed as having received a palliative approach. 53% of decedents had a documented discussion about goals of care, 41% had nurse involvement, and 15.2% had a discussion about caregiver well-being. These indicators had the greatest discrimination between a palliative approach or not. Agreement that elements of a palliative approach were provided decreased significantly on the clinician questionnaire from before to after viewing the results.

Conclusions

This study identified measurable indicators of a palliative approach in family practice, that can be used as the basis for quality improvement.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Frequency of providing a palliative approach to care in family practice: a chart review and perceptions of healthcare practitioners in Canada
Authors
Erin Gallagher
Daniel Carter-Ramirez
Kaitlyn Boese
Samantha Winemaker
Amanda MacLennan
Nicolle Hansen
Abe Hafid
Michelle Howard
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keyword
Care
Published in
BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01400-4

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