Feasibility and effectiveness of a two-tiered intervention involving training and a new consultation model for patients with palliative care needs in primary care: A before-after study.
Palliat Med
; : 2692163231219682, 2024 Jan 16.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38226491
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Evidence suggests that involving General Practitioners in the care of patients with palliative care needs may improve patient outcomes.AIM:
To evaluate whether a two-tiered intervention involving training in palliative care and a new consultation model in primary care for patients with palliative care needs is feasible and could reduce patients' symptom burden.DESIGN:
Before-after study including an internal pilot. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS:
Nine general practitioners working in a health region in Portugal and 53 patients with palliative care needs from their patient lists were recruited. General Practitioners received training in palliative care and used a new primary palliative care consultation model, with medical consultations every 3 weeks for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was physical symptom burden, self-reported using the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) patient version (min.0-max.1000). Secondary outcomes included emotional symptoms (min.0-max.400) and communication/practical issues (min.0-max.300).RESULTS:
Of the 35/53 patients completed the 12-week intervention (mean age 72.53 years, SD = 13.45; 54.7% female). All had advanced disease one third had cancer (n = 13), one third had congestive heart failure (n = 12); others had chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. After the 12 weeks of intervention, there was a reduction in physical symptom burden [mean difference from baseline of 71.42 (95%CI 37.01-105.85) with a medium-large effect size (0.71], and in emotional symptom burden [mean difference 42.86 (95%CI 16.14-69.58), with a medium effect size (0.55)]. No difference was found for communication/practical issues.CONCLUSIONS:
Our intervention can be effective in reducing patients' physical and emotional symptoms. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov ID - NCT05244590. Registration 14th February 2022.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article