Role and response of primary healthcare services in community end-of-life care during COVID-19: Qualitative study and recommendations for primary palliative care delivery.
Palliat Med
; : 2692163221140435, 2022 Dec 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2236453
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The need for end-of-life care in the community increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary care services, including general practitioners and community nurses, had a critical role in providing such care, rapidly changing their working practices to meet demand. Little is known about primary care responses to a major change in place of care towards the end of life, or the implications for future end-of-life care services.AIM:
To gather general practitioner and community nurse perspectives on factors that facilitated community end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to use this to develop recommendations to improve future delivery of end-of-life care.DESIGN:
Qualitative interview study with thematic analysis, followed by refinement of themes and recommendations in consultation with an expert advisory group.PARTICIPANTS:
General practitioners (n = 8) and community nurses (n = 17) working in primary care in the UK.RESULTS:
General practitioner and community nurse perspectives on factors critical to sustaining community end-of-life care were identified under three themes (1) partnership working is key, (2) care planning for end-of-life needs improvement, and (3) importance of the physical presence of primary care professionals. Drawing on participants' experiences and behaviour change theory, recommendations are proposed to improve end-of-life care in primary care.CONCLUSIONS:
To sustain and embed positive change, an increased policy focus on primary care in end-of-life care is required. Targeted interventions developed during COVID-19, including online team meetings and education, new prescribing systems and unified guidance, could increase capacity and capability of the primary care workforce to deliver community end-of-life care.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Qualitative research
Language:
English
Journal:
Palliat Med
Journal subject:
Health Services
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
02692163221140435
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