Coordinator research program Nursing Care and Elderly Care; endowed professor 'Nursing and care at the end of life', VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Publicatie
How do GPs recognize needs for palliative care in their patients?
Claessen, S.J., Francke, A.L., Deliens, L. How do GPs recognize needs for palliative care in their patients? Palliative Medicine: 2012, 26(4), p. 490-491. Abstract. 7th World Research Congress of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), 7-9 juni 2012, Trondheim.
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how GPs in the Netherlands recognize patients’ needs for palliative care. Methods: We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with about 25 GPs. These GPs were interviewed about recognition of the needs for palliative care in their patients and how GPs anticipate on these needs. All interview data were analysed qualitatively, with support of the programme Atlas.ti. Results: Signals on the basis of which GPs recognized a need for palliative care were: a strong increase of care dependency, lost of interest of patients in usual activities or hobbies, depressed mood or other mental changes and / or the message from the medical specialist that cure is no option anymore. GPs act proactively when having recognized a need for palliative care in their patients; they plan telephone appointments or visits at the patient’s home regularly. GPs also look forward with the patient and the family what kind of care wishes the patient and the family have, for example with regard to which place and by whom they wish to be cared for in the last phase of life. This pro-active approach in the palliative phase contrasts with the more reactive attitude of the GP in previous phases of the disease trajectory.
Conclusion: This study shows that GPs recognize needs for palliative care by several often subtle signals in the disease trajectory. GPs have a pro-active attitude after signalling needs for palliative care in their patients. Main source of funding: ZonMw-Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. (aut. ref.)
Conclusion: This study shows that GPs recognize needs for palliative care by several often subtle signals in the disease trajectory. GPs have a pro-active attitude after signalling needs for palliative care in their patients. Main source of funding: ZonMw-Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. (aut. ref.)
Aim: The aim of this study was to explore how GPs in the Netherlands recognize patients’ needs for palliative care. Methods: We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with about 25 GPs. These GPs were interviewed about recognition of the needs for palliative care in their patients and how GPs anticipate on these needs. All interview data were analysed qualitatively, with support of the programme Atlas.ti. Results: Signals on the basis of which GPs recognized a need for palliative care were: a strong increase of care dependency, lost of interest of patients in usual activities or hobbies, depressed mood or other mental changes and / or the message from the medical specialist that cure is no option anymore. GPs act proactively when having recognized a need for palliative care in their patients; they plan telephone appointments or visits at the patient’s home regularly. GPs also look forward with the patient and the family what kind of care wishes the patient and the family have, for example with regard to which place and by whom they wish to be cared for in the last phase of life. This pro-active approach in the palliative phase contrasts with the more reactive attitude of the GP in previous phases of the disease trajectory.
Conclusion: This study shows that GPs recognize needs for palliative care by several often subtle signals in the disease trajectory. GPs have a pro-active attitude after signalling needs for palliative care in their patients. Main source of funding: ZonMw-Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. (aut. ref.)
Conclusion: This study shows that GPs recognize needs for palliative care by several often subtle signals in the disease trajectory. GPs have a pro-active attitude after signalling needs for palliative care in their patients. Main source of funding: ZonMw-Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development. (aut. ref.)