Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25276094›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2014

Qualitative inquiry: a method for validating patient perceptions of palliative care while enrolled on a cancer clinical trial.

Christina Slota, Connie M Ulrich, Claiborne Miller-Davis, Karen Baker, Gwenyth R Wallen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Christina SlotaDepartment of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, USA.
Connie M UlrichDepartment of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, USA.
Claiborne Miller-DavisNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 10 Center Drive, 2B-09, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Karen BakerPain and Palliative Care Service, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 10 Center Drive, 2-1733 MSC 1517, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Gwenyth R WallenNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 10 Center Drive, 2B-09, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Funding

Pain And Palliative Care Evaluation StudyZIACL001136 · CLC · CLINICAL CENTER · PI WALLEN, GWENYTH R · 2009 to 2015
$0k
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPalliative care is a vital component of patient-centered care. It has increasingly become central to the management and care of seriously ill patients by integrating physical, psychosocial, and spiritual supportive services. Through qualitative inquiry, this paper examines cancer patients' perceptions of the process and outcomes of the pain and palliative care consultative services they received while enrolled in a clinical trial.

methodsA qualitative analysis of open-ended questions was conducted from a sub-sample of patients (n = 34) with advanced cancers enrolled in a randomized controlled trial exploring the efficacy of a palliative care consult service. Two open-ended questions focused on patient perceptions of continued participation on their primary cancer clinical trials and their perceptions of interdisciplinary communication.

resultsTHREE OVERARCHING THEMES EMERGED WHEN ASKED WHETHER RECEIVING PAIN AND PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES MADE THEM MORE LIKELY TO REMAIN ENROLLED IN THEIR PRIMARY CANCER CLINICAL TRIAL: patients' past experiences with care, self-identified personal characteristics and reasons for participation, and the quality of the partnership. Four themes emerged related to interdisciplinary communication including: the importance of developing relationships, facilitating open communication, having quality communication, and uncertainty about communication between the cancer clinical trial and palliative care teams.

conclusionsOur findings suggest the importance of qualitative inquiry methods to explore patient perceptions regarding the efficacy of palliative care services for cancer patients enrolled in a cancer clinical trial. Validation of patient perceptions through qualitative inquiry regarding their pain and palliative care needs can provide insight into areas for future implementation research.

trial registrationNIH Office of Human Subjects Research Protection OHSRP5443 and University of Pennsylvania 813365.

Indexed as

Cancer clinical trialCommunicationPainPalliative care

Identifiers

PMID25276094
PMCPMC4178548

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.