EB002 Research Methodology
Student Name
Walden University
NURS 6052 – Essentials of Evidence-Based Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Early Referral to a Palliative Team Improves End-of-Life Care Among Gynecological Cancer Patients: A Retrospective, Population-Based Study
Paulsen, T., Liland, H., Myklebust, T. Å., & Lindemann, K. (2022, February 1). International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from https://ijgc.bmj.com/content/32/2/181
Health Professionals’ Perceived Concerns and Challenges in Providing End-of-Life Care: A Qualitative Study
Price, D. M., Strodtman, L. K., Montagnini, M., Smith, H. M., & Ghosh, B. (2018, November 21). SAGE Journals. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1049909118812193?icid=int.sj-full
Effect of Hospice Care on Quality Indicators of End-of-Life Care Among Patients With Liver Cancer: A National Longitudinal Population-Based Study in Taiwan
Kao, Y.-H., & Chiang, J.-K. (2015, August 19). BMC Palliative Care. Retrieved September 17, 2022, from https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-015-0036-9
The Earlier the Better: The Role of Palliative Care Consultation on Aggressive End of Life Care, Hospice Utilization, and Advance Care Planning Documentation Among Gynecologic Oncology Patients
Schneiter, M. K., Karlekar, M. B., Crispens, M. A., Prescott, L. S., & Brown, A. J. (2019, May 1). Supportive Care in Cancer. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30209601/
Why Were These Articles Selected and How Do They Relate to the Clinical Issue?
These articles were chosen for their comprehensive exploration of end-of-life care, specifically focusing on the significance of early palliative care referral in patients suffering from terminal illnesses such as gynecological and liver cancers. The collective evidence presented in these studies emphasizes how early engagement with palliative care teams enhances symptom management, psychosocial support, and advance care planning, ultimately improving patients’ quality of life during their final stages.
Furthermore, the studies explore healthcare professionals’ challenges in delivering end-of-life care, including emotional and logistical barriers. They also provide measurable outcomes demonstrating the positive impact of hospice and palliative care services. Together, these findings form a strong foundation for informing clinical practices and policy-making aimed at optimizing care delivery for patients with life-limiting diseases.
What Research Methodologies Were Employed in These Studies?
| Study | Research Design | Methodology Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Paulsen et al. (2022) | Retrospective Population-Based | Utilized a comprehensive population registry from Oslo for data collection. |
| Price et al. (2018) | Qualitative Thematic Analysis | Conducted interviews and focus groups with health professionals, analyzing themes related to care challenges. |
| Kao & Chiang (2015) | Quantitative Longitudinal | Analyzed Taiwan’s national health insurance data to evaluate hospice care impact over time. |
| Schneiter et al. (2019) | Retrospective Chart Review | Reviewed clinical records to assess timing of palliative care consultations and outcomes. |
What Are the Strengths of Each Research Methodology?
- Paulsen et al. (2022): The population-based design enabled a broad, unbiased examination of patient outcomes across a defined geographic area, enhancing the generalizability of the findings.
- Price et al. (2018): The qualitative thematic approach provided rich, detailed insights into healthcare providers’ perceptions, revealing practical barriers and emotional challenges in end-of-life care delivery.
- Kao & Chiang (2015): The longitudinal, large-scale dataset allowed for robust statistical analyses to identify trends and quality outcomes associated with hospice care over an extended period.
- Schneiter et al. (2019): The detailed retrospective chart review provided precise information on how the timing of palliative care consultation influences treatment aggressiveness and hospice utilization, ensuring reliability in outcome measurement.
Enhanced Insights into Early Palliative Care Referral and End-of-Life Care Quality
Early involvement of palliative care teams has shown to significantly improve clinical outcomes and patient comfort in gynecological cancer patients, as highlighted by Paulsen et al. (2022). Proactive symptom control, emotional support, and thorough advance care planning can reduce unnecessary aggressive treatments and promote a better quality of life during terminal stages.
Price et al. (2018) emphasize that healthcare professionals frequently encounter emotional strain, communication hurdles, and resource limitations while providing end-of-life care. Recognizing these issues is crucial to developing support systems that empower care teams.
In liver cancer patients, Kao and Chiang (2015) demonstrated that hospice care substantially improves key quality indicators, including symptom control, fewer hospital admissions, and enhanced documentation of patient preferences. These findings advocate for integrating hospice services as a core component of cancer care.
Furthermore, Schneiter et al. (2019) provide evidence that earlier palliative care consultation is associated with reduced aggressive medical interventions, increased hospice enrollment, and better completion of advance care planning documentation. These results underscore the critical importance of timely palliative care engagement.
Summary Table: Key Findings and Clinical Implications
| Study | Key Findings | Clinical Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Paulsen et al. (2022) | Early palliative referral improves symptom management and care quality. | Supports early integration of palliative care in treatment plans. |
| Price et al. (2018) | Identified significant healthcare provider challenges in end-of-life care delivery. | Highlights the necessity for targeted training and supportive resources. |
| Kao & Chiang (2015) | Hospice care enhances quality indicators and decreases aggressive treatments. | Encourages wider hospice utilization and policy advocacy. |
| Schneiter et al. (2019) | Early palliative consultations reduce aggressive care and increase advance care planning. | Reinforces the importance of prompt palliative care referrals. |
References
Kao, Y.-H., & Chiang, J.-K. (2015, August 19). Effect of hospice care on quality indicators of end-of-life care among patients with liver cancer: A national longitudinal population-based study in Taiwan 2000–2011. BMC Palliative Care. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-015-0036-9
Paulsen, T., Liland, H., Myklebust, T. Å., & Lindemann, K. (2022, February 1). Early referral to a palliative team improves end-of-life care among gynecological cancer patients: A retrospective, population-based study. International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer. https://ijgc.bmj.com/content/32/2/181
EB002 Research Methodology
Price, D. M., Strodtman, L. K., Montagnini, M., Smith, H. M., & Ghosh, B. (2018, November 21). Health professionals’ perceived concerns and challenges in providing end-of-life care: A qualitative study. The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1049909118812193?icid=int.sj-full
Schneiter, M. K., Karlekar, M. B., Crispens, M. A., Prescott, L. S., & Brown, A. J. (2019, May 1). The earlier the better: The role of palliative care consultation on aggressive end-of-life care, hospice utilization, and advance care planning documentation among gynecologic oncology patients. Supportive Care in Cancer. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30209601/