Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39523347›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2024

Understanding the benefits and limitations of mixing virtual and face-to-face consultations to outpatient palliative care services; a mixed-methods study.

Caradoc Morris, David Waterman, Lesley Anne Henson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–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

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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  5. Observational
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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

3 authors.

Caradoc MorrisBury Hospice, Rochdale Old Road, Bury, BL9 7RG, UK.
David WatermanSt Ann's Hospice, St Ann's Road North, Heald Green, Manchester, SK8 3SZ, UK.
Lesley Anne HensonSt Ann's Hospice, St Ann's Road North, Heald Green, Manchester, SK8 3SZ, UK. lahenson@sah.org.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Covid-19 pandemic led to a rapid increase in the use of virtual consultations across healthcare. Post-pandemic, this use is expected to continue alongside the resumption of traditional face-to-face clinics. At present, research exploring when to use different consultation formats for palliative care patients is limited.

aimTo understand the benefits and limitations of a blended approach to outpatient palliative care services, to provide recommendations for future care.

methodsA mixed-methods study. Component 1: an online survey of UK palliative care physicians. Component 2: a qualitative interview study exploring patients' and caregivers' experiences of different consultation formats. Findings from both components were integrated, and recommendations for clinical practice identified.

resultsWe received 48 survey responses and conducted 8 qualitative interviews. Survey respondents reported that face-to-face consultations were appropriate/necessary for physical examinations (n = 48) and first consultations (n = 39). Video consultations were considered appropriate for monitoring stable symptoms (n = 37), and at the patient's request (n = 42). Patients and caregivers felt face-to-face consultations aided communication. A blended approach increased flexibility and reduced travel burden.

conclusionsA blended outpatient palliative care service was viewed positively by physicians, patients and caregivers. We identified 13 clinical practice recommendations for the use of different consultation formats.

Indexed as

COVID-19Palliative CareAdultAmbulatory CareFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPandemicsQualitative ResearchReferral and ConsultationRemote ConsultationSARS-CoV-2Surveys and QuestionnairesTelemedicineUnited KingdomOutpatientsPalliative careReferral and consultationRemote consultation

Identifiers

PMID39523347
PMCPMC11552375

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

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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.