Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42157459›Full record

ArticleJournal of clinical nursing2026

Accessing and Administering Anticipatory Medications for Community End-of-Life Symptom Control: A Qualitative Focus Group Study.

Matthew Bernstein, Louisa Polak, Stephen Barclay, Simon Etkind, Kristian Pollock, Anna Spathis, Markus Schichtel, Sarah Hopkins, Susannah Browne, Ben Bowers

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of clinical nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

10 authors.

Matthew BernsteinPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2028-5889
Louisa PolakPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7298-4454
Stephen BarclayPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4505-7743
Simon EtkindPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2863-8893
Kristian PollockPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6836-8595
Anna SpathisPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Markus SchichtelPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Sarah HopkinsPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Susannah BrownePalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Ben BowersPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Primary Care Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6772-2620

Funding

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation TrustNIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England (NIHR ARC EoE)RCN Foundation Professional Bursary SchemeWellcome TrustWellcome Trust 225577/Z/22/Z
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo understand healthcare professionals' perspectives of what works well and what can be improved in the supply and administration of anticipatory medications at the end of life in the community.

designQualitative interpretive study using focus groups.

methodsSemi-structured focus groups included healthcare professionals with experience of using anticipatory medications, and public contributors with lived experiences of relatives' end-of-life care. Participants' demographic information was elicited in a brief questionnaire. Transcripts were analysed inductively using thematic analysis. Data were collected in September 2022. SETTING AND

participantsEight focus groups involved 58 UK-based participants. Each group included people with a variety of professional roles from diverse geographical areas, and public contributors with relevant lived experiences.

resultsThe administration of anticipatory prescriptions was widely perceived to be a valuable intervention, but extensive operational challenges were identified, with three interconnected themes arising from the data: (a) Communication between healthcare teams; (b) Intuitive documentation; (c) Accessibility of medications. Addressing these challenges was perceived to be onerous, particularly for nurses and families.

conclusionsOperational barriers to the timely and appropriate administration of anticipatory medications risk were perceived as adversely affecting patient care and patients' and families' experiences. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE: System-level improvements are needed to streamline care processes and ensure equitable, appropriate, and timely access to end-of-life symptom control medications in the community. REPORTING

methodThis study adheres to relevant EQUATOR guidelines and follows the appropriate Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR). PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Our Public and Clinician Advisory Group helped shape questions and commented on findings. Focus groups included public participants with lived experience of end-of-life care in the community.

Indexed as

Terminal CareAdultFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchUnited Kingdomcommunity health servicesgeneral practiceinjectionpalliative carepharmaciessubcutaneous

Identifiers

PMID42157459
PMCPMC13431712

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.