Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42583708›Full record

ArticleScandinavian journal of primary health care2026

Drivers of avoidable emergency department visits in older adults with multiple long-term conditions and palliative care needs: a qualitative survey across six care providers.

Hanna Bring, Monica Bergqvist, Karin Modig, Pia Bastholm-Rahmner, Katharina Schmidt-Mende

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scandinavian journal of primary health care, 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

5 authors.

Hanna BringKarolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0001-3665-9275
Monica BergqvistAcademic Primary Health Care Center, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-3061-4885
Karin ModigKarolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Unit of Epidemiology, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-5151-4867
Pia Bastholm-RahmnerKarolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-6655-3535
Katharina Schmidt-MendeKarolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-0446-8930

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesEmergency department (ED) visits remain common among older adults with multiple long-term conditions, many of whom have palliative care needs. However, the ED environment is burdensome for these patients and often misaligned with their goals. This study explores experiences of shortcomings in outpatient care that drive ED use in this population to inform a primary care intervention.

methodQualitative content analysis of free-text responses from a survey of 100 physicians, registered nurses and nurse assistants working across primary care practices, home healthcare, EDs, geriatrics, ambulance services and advanced home healthcare in Stockholm.

resultsThe analysis distinguished one overarching theme: 'Delayed, fragmented palliative care in primary care settings contributes to ED visits'. This theme comprised two categories: (1) Palliative decision-making in primary care, including subcategories

conclusionDelayed recognition of palliative care needs and the resulting delay in action are perceived as important drivers of avoidable ED visits in older adults with multiple long-term conditions. Strengthening generalist palliative care in primary care through targeted education, adequate resources, and access to specialist support are potential important components of an intervention aiming to reduce ED use and enable more proactive, person-centred, end‑of‑life care.

Indexed as

Emergency Room VisitsEmergency Service, HospitalMultiple Chronic ConditionsPalliative CarePrimary Health CareAgedAged, 80 and overAmbulatory CareDecision MakingFemaleHealth Services Needs and DemandHome Care ServicesHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchEmergency department visitsmultiple long-term conditionsolder adultspalliative careprimary health care

Identifiers

PMID42583708
PMCPMC13470911

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.