Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectives
Abstract Background The legalization of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada in 2016 provided new impetus for improving palliative care. This commitment to improvement included the development of a National Palliative Care Framework and Action Plan. The purpose of this study was to understand the p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Palliative Care |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-022-01074-4 |
| _version_ | 1811182228732903424 |
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| author | Barbara Pesut Sally Thorne Anne Huisken David Kenneth Wright Kenneth Chambaere Carol Tishelman Sunita Ghosh |
| author_facet | Barbara Pesut Sally Thorne Anne Huisken David Kenneth Wright Kenneth Chambaere Carol Tishelman Sunita Ghosh |
| author_sort | Barbara Pesut |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The legalization of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada in 2016 provided new impetus for improving palliative care. This commitment to improvement included the development of a National Palliative Care Framework and Action Plan. The purpose of this study was to understand the progress made in palliative care since 2016 from the perspective of persons working and volunteering in palliative care and compare geographic differences. Methods A digital survey was developed from goals identified in Canada’s Palliative Care Framework and Action Plan and administered online using Qualtrics. Participants were recruited through national palliative care organizations. The survey included both quantitative survey items designed to evaluate improvements across 5 domains and 29 items and included open-ended questions about impacts, innovations, and ongoing challenges. Descriptive statistics were generated for survey domains, items, and demographic variables. Geographic differences were compared using Independent-Samples Kruskal–Wallis test. Qualitative data was analyzed inductively into themes. Results One hundred fifty surveys met inclusion criteria and were analysed. Overall, the most improvement was reported in palliative care education and the least improvement was reported in support for family caregivers. Items on which respondents reported the most improvement included healthcare provider education in palliative care, advance care planning, and use of technology. Items on which respondents reported the least improvement were respite for family caregivers, access to bereavement services, and in-home support for family caregivers. Notably, rural participants reported more statistically significant improvements in the domains of education, access, and research and data collection than their urban counterparts. However, rural participants reported less improvement in places to die when home is not preferable. The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant contributor to these perceived improvements and ongoing challenges. Conclusion Canada’s Framework and Action Plan sets out a roadmap for improving palliative care in Canada. Participants in this survey noted significant improvements in key areas, a notable accomplishment amidst the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some improvements were a result of greater use of distance technology. Further leveraging these improvements will make an important contribution to solving some of the rural and remote palliative care issues that have arisen from Canada’s unique geography. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:29:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e5618a4c56c4733ba89630b549ae03e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-684X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T09:29:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Palliative Care |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e5618a4c56c4733ba89630b549ae03e2022-12-22T04:31:57ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2022-10-0121111610.1186/s12904-022-01074-4Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectivesBarbara Pesut0Sally Thorne1Anne Huisken2David Kenneth Wright3Kenneth Chambaere4Carol Tishelman5Sunita Ghosh6Professor School of Nursing, Principal Research Chair in Palliative and End-of-Life Care, University of British Columbia Okanagan. ARTS 3rdFloorProfessor School of Nursing, University of British ColumbiaResearch Coordinator Palliative and End of Life Research Lab, University of British Columbia OkanaganAssociate Professor, School of Nursing, University of OttawaProfessor Public Health, Sociology & Ethics of the End of Life, End-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent UniversityProfessor of Innovative Care Karoliinska Institutet, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics Division of Innovative Care ResearchAssociate Clinical Professor/Research Scientist, University of Alberta/Alberta Health ServicesAbstract Background The legalization of Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada in 2016 provided new impetus for improving palliative care. This commitment to improvement included the development of a National Palliative Care Framework and Action Plan. The purpose of this study was to understand the progress made in palliative care since 2016 from the perspective of persons working and volunteering in palliative care and compare geographic differences. Methods A digital survey was developed from goals identified in Canada’s Palliative Care Framework and Action Plan and administered online using Qualtrics. Participants were recruited through national palliative care organizations. The survey included both quantitative survey items designed to evaluate improvements across 5 domains and 29 items and included open-ended questions about impacts, innovations, and ongoing challenges. Descriptive statistics were generated for survey domains, items, and demographic variables. Geographic differences were compared using Independent-Samples Kruskal–Wallis test. Qualitative data was analyzed inductively into themes. Results One hundred fifty surveys met inclusion criteria and were analysed. Overall, the most improvement was reported in palliative care education and the least improvement was reported in support for family caregivers. Items on which respondents reported the most improvement included healthcare provider education in palliative care, advance care planning, and use of technology. Items on which respondents reported the least improvement were respite for family caregivers, access to bereavement services, and in-home support for family caregivers. Notably, rural participants reported more statistically significant improvements in the domains of education, access, and research and data collection than their urban counterparts. However, rural participants reported less improvement in places to die when home is not preferable. The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant contributor to these perceived improvements and ongoing challenges. Conclusion Canada’s Framework and Action Plan sets out a roadmap for improving palliative care in Canada. Participants in this survey noted significant improvements in key areas, a notable accomplishment amidst the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some improvements were a result of greater use of distance technology. Further leveraging these improvements will make an important contribution to solving some of the rural and remote palliative care issues that have arisen from Canada’s unique geography.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-022-01074-4Palliative careSurveyQualitativeQuality improvementCanada |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Pesut Sally Thorne Anne Huisken David Kenneth Wright Kenneth Chambaere Carol Tishelman Sunita Ghosh Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectives BMC Palliative Care Palliative care Survey Qualitative Quality improvement Canada |
| title | Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectives |
| title_full | Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectives |
| title_fullStr | Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectives |
| title_full_unstemmed | Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectives |
| title_short | Is progress being made on Canada’s palliative care framework and action plan? A survey of stakeholder perspectives |
| title_sort | is progress being made on canada s palliative care framework and action plan a survey of stakeholder perspectives |
| topic | Palliative care Survey Qualitative Quality improvement Canada |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-022-01074-4 |
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