How continuity of care is experienced within the context of integrated palliative care: A qualitative study with patients and family caregivers in five European countries

Background: Patients with advanced diseases often experience deficient continuity of care. Although integrated palliative care promotes continuity of care, it is not clear how it can be optimized to improve continuity of care experiences. Aim: To examine how relational, informational and management...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Palliative medicine 2017-12, Vol.31 (10), p.946-955
Main Authors: den Herder-van der Eerden, Marlieke, Hasselaar, Jeroen, Payne, Sheila, Varey, Sandra, Schwabe, Sven, Radbruch, Lukas, Van Beek, Karen, Menten, Johan, Busa, Csilla, Csikos, Agnes, Vissers, Kris, Groot, Marieke
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cancer
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Continuity of care
Continuity of Patient Care - standards
Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - organization & administration
Delivery of Health Care, Integrated - standards
Family physicians
Female
Health initiatives
Heart failure
Humans
Integrated care
Interdisciplinary aspects
Life expectancy
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Medical personnel
Middle Aged
Palliative care
Palliative Care - organization & administration
Patient Care Team - organization & administration
Patient Satisfaction
Patients
Physicians
Professional-Patient Relations
Qualitative Research
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Summary:Background: Patients with advanced diseases often experience deficient continuity of care. Although integrated palliative care promotes continuity of care, it is not clear how it can be optimized to improve continuity of care experiences. Aim: To examine how relational, informational and management continuity of care are experienced by patients with advanced diseases and their family caregivers receiving care from several integrated palliative care initiatives in five European countries. Design: We adopted a longitudinal qualitative study design including two interviews (interval 3 months) with patients and family caregivers focusing on how health care professionals responded to their needs. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis involved a two-step qualitative content approach. Setting/participants: A total of 22 integrated palliative care initiatives (established local palliative care collaborations) were selected in Belgium, Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. We recruited 152 patients (63% cancer, 24% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 13% heart failure; life expectancy
ISSN:0269-2163
1477-030X
DOI:10.1177/0269216317697898