Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32660621›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2020

A pilot evaluation of the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care (SPA-LTC) program.

Sharon Kaasalainen, Tamara Sussman, Genevieve Thompson, Lynn McCleary, Paulette V Hunter, Lorraine Venturato, Abigail Wickson-Griffiths, Jenny Ploeg, Deborah Parker, Shane Sinclair and 4 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing 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

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

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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

14 authors.

Sharon KaasalainenSchool of Nursing, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, HSC 3N25F, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada. kaasal@mcmaster.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2175-6037
Tamara SussmanSchool of Social Work, McGill University, 3506 University St., Montreal, QC, Canada.
Genevieve ThompsonCollege of Nursing, Max Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 89 Curry Place, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
Lynn McClearyFaculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catharines, ON, L2N 3A1, Canada.
Paulette V HunterSt. Thomas More College, University of Saskatchewan, 1437 College Drive, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
Lorraine VenturatoFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Abigail Wickson-GriffithsFaculty of Nursing, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK, Canada.
Jenny PloegSchool of Nursing, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, HSC 3N25F, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Deborah ParkerFaculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, 235 Jones St, Ultimo, Australia.
Shane SinclairFaculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB, Canada.
Vanina Dal Bello-HaasSchool of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, 1400 Main Street West, IAHS 403E, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Marie EarlSchool of Physiotherapy, Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, NS, Canada.
John J YouDivision of General Internal and Hospitalist Medicine, Credit Valley Hospital, Trillium Health Partners, 2200 Eglinton Ave W, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
SPA-LTC team

Funding

Canadian Frailty Network SIG-2014
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite increased annual mortality in long-term care (LTC) homes, research has shown that care of dying residents and their families is currently suboptimal in these settings. The purpose of this study was to evaluate resident and family outcomes associated with the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in LTC (SPA-LTC) program, developed to help encourage meaningful end of life discussions and planning.

methodsThe study employs a mixed method design in four LTC homes across Southern Ontario. Data were collected from residents and families of the LTC homes through chart reviews, interviews, and focus groups. Interviews with family who attended a Palliative Care Conference included both closed-ended and open-ended questions.

resultsIn total, 39 residents/families agreed to participate in the study. Positive intervention outcomes included a reduction in the proportion of emergency department use at end of life and hospital deaths for those participating in SPA-LTC, improved support for families, and increased family involvement in the care of residents. For families who attended a Palliative Care Conference, both quantitative and qualitative findings revealed that families benefited from attending them. Residents stated that they appreciated learning about a palliative approach to care and being informed about their current status.

conclusionsThe benefits of SPA-LTC for residents and families justify its continued use within LTC. Study results also suggest that certain enhancements of the program could further promote future integration of best practices within a palliative approach to care within the LTC context. However, the generalizability of these results across LTC homes in different regions and countries is limited given the small sample size.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedOntarioPalliative CarePilot ProjectsProgram EvaluationQualitative ResearchSurveys and QuestionnairesEnd-of-life careLong-term carePalliative approachPalliative care

Identifiers

PMID32660621
PMCPMC7358198

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.