Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique
In a predominantly biomedical healthcare model focused on cure, providing optimal, person-centred palliative care is challenging. The general public, patients, and healthcare professionals are often unaware of palliative care’s benefits. Poor interdisciplinary teamwork and limited communication comb...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2022-01-01
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Series: | PLoS ONE |
Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8942240/?tool=EBI |
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author | Manon S. Boddaert Joep Douma Anne-Floor Q. Dijxhoorn René A. C. L. Héman Carin C. D. van der Rijt Saskia S. C. M. Teunissen Peter C. Huijgens Kris C. P. Vissers |
author_facet | Manon S. Boddaert Joep Douma Anne-Floor Q. Dijxhoorn René A. C. L. Héman Carin C. D. van der Rijt Saskia S. C. M. Teunissen Peter C. Huijgens Kris C. P. Vissers |
author_sort | Manon S. Boddaert |
collection | DOAJ |
description | In a predominantly biomedical healthcare model focused on cure, providing optimal, person-centred palliative care is challenging. The general public, patients, and healthcare professionals are often unaware of palliative care’s benefits. Poor interdisciplinary teamwork and limited communication combined with a lack of early identification of patients with palliative care needs contribute to sub-optimal palliative care provision. We aimed to develop a national quality framework to improve availability and access to high-quality palliative care in a mixed generalist-specialist palliative care model. We hypothesised that a whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique would be suitable to reach this aim. Analogous to the international AGREE guideline criteria and employing a whole-sector approach, an expert panel comprising mandated representatives for patients and their families, various healthcare associations, and health insurers answered the main question: ‘What are the elements defining high-quality palliative care in the Netherlands?’. For constructing the quality framework, a bottleneck analysis of palliative care provision and a literature review were conducted. Six core documents were used in a modified Delphi technique to build the framework with the expert panel, while stakeholder organisations were involved and informed in round-table discussions. In the entire process, preparing and building relationships took one year and surveying, convening, discussing content, consulting peers, and obtaining final consent from all stakeholders took 18 months. A quality framework, including a glossary of terms, endorsed by organisations representing patients and their families, general practitioners, elderly care physicians, medical specialists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, spiritual caregivers, and health insurers was developed and annexed with a summary for patients and families. We successfully developed a national consensus-based patient-centred quality framework for high-quality palliative care in a mixed generalist-specialist palliative care model. A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique are feasible structures to achieve this aim. The process we reported may guide other countries in their initiatives to enhance palliative care. |
first_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:11:41Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-54fcc0328f2e47ac9fd3b15fce101ea9 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1932-6203 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-04-13T06:11:41Z |
publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
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series | PLoS ONE |
spelling | doaj.art-54fcc0328f2e47ac9fd3b15fce101ea92022-12-22T02:59:01ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01173Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi techniqueManon S. BoddaertJoep DoumaAnne-Floor Q. DijxhoornRené A. C. L. HémanCarin C. D. van der RijtSaskia S. C. M. TeunissenPeter C. HuijgensKris C. P. VissersIn a predominantly biomedical healthcare model focused on cure, providing optimal, person-centred palliative care is challenging. The general public, patients, and healthcare professionals are often unaware of palliative care’s benefits. Poor interdisciplinary teamwork and limited communication combined with a lack of early identification of patients with palliative care needs contribute to sub-optimal palliative care provision. We aimed to develop a national quality framework to improve availability and access to high-quality palliative care in a mixed generalist-specialist palliative care model. We hypothesised that a whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique would be suitable to reach this aim. Analogous to the international AGREE guideline criteria and employing a whole-sector approach, an expert panel comprising mandated representatives for patients and their families, various healthcare associations, and health insurers answered the main question: ‘What are the elements defining high-quality palliative care in the Netherlands?’. For constructing the quality framework, a bottleneck analysis of palliative care provision and a literature review were conducted. Six core documents were used in a modified Delphi technique to build the framework with the expert panel, while stakeholder organisations were involved and informed in round-table discussions. In the entire process, preparing and building relationships took one year and surveying, convening, discussing content, consulting peers, and obtaining final consent from all stakeholders took 18 months. A quality framework, including a glossary of terms, endorsed by organisations representing patients and their families, general practitioners, elderly care physicians, medical specialists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, spiritual caregivers, and health insurers was developed and annexed with a summary for patients and families. We successfully developed a national consensus-based patient-centred quality framework for high-quality palliative care in a mixed generalist-specialist palliative care model. A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique are feasible structures to achieve this aim. The process we reported may guide other countries in their initiatives to enhance palliative care.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8942240/?tool=EBI |
spellingShingle | Manon S. Boddaert Joep Douma Anne-Floor Q. Dijxhoorn René A. C. L. Héman Carin C. D. van der Rijt Saskia S. C. M. Teunissen Peter C. Huijgens Kris C. P. Vissers Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique PLoS ONE |
title | Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique |
title_full | Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique |
title_fullStr | Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique |
title_full_unstemmed | Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique |
title_short | Development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model: A whole-sector approach and a modified Delphi technique |
title_sort | development of a national quality framework for palliative care in a mixed generalist and specialist care model a whole sector approach and a modified delphi technique |
url | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8942240/?tool=EBI |
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