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

Kaasalainen, S; Sussman, T; Thompson, G; McCleary, L; Hunter, PV; Venturato, L; Wickson-Griffiths, A; Ploeg, J; Parker, D; Sinclair, S; Dal Bello-Haas, V; Earl, M; You, JJ; SPA-LTC team

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

Kaasalainen, S Sussman, T Thompson, G McCleary, L Hunter, PV Venturato, L Wickson-Griffiths, A Ploeg, J Parker, D

Sinclair, S Dal Bello-Haas, V Earl, M You, JJ SPA-LTC team

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Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: BMC palliative care, 2020, 19, (1)
Issue Date:: 2020-07-13

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Kaasalainen, S
dc.contributor.author	Sussman, T
dc.contributor.author	Thompson, G
dc.contributor.author	McCleary, L
dc.contributor.author	Hunter, PV
dc.contributor.author	Venturato, L
dc.contributor.author	Wickson-Griffiths, A
dc.contributor.author	Ploeg, J
dc.contributor.author	Parker, D https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2552-8613
dc.contributor.author	Sinclair, S
dc.contributor.author	Dal Bello-Haas, V
dc.contributor.author	Earl, M
dc.contributor.author	You, JJ
dc.contributor.author	SPA-LTC team
dc.date.accessioned	2020-09-30T05:29:43Z
dc.date.available	2020-06-19
dc.date.available	2020-09-30T05:29:43Z
dc.date.issued	2020-07-13
dc.identifier.citation	BMC palliative care, 2020, 19, (1)
dc.identifier.issn	1472-684X
dc.identifier.issn	1472-684X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142932
dc.description.abstract	BACKGROUND:Despite 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. METHODS:The 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. RESULTS:In 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. CONCLUSIONS:The 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.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.ispartof	BMC palliative care
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1186/s12904-020-00599-w
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in BMC palliative care. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12904-020-00599-w.	en_US
dc.subject	1110 Nursing, 1117 Public Health and Health Services
dc.subject.classification	Gerontology
dc.title	A pilot evaluation of the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care (SPA-LTC) program.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	19
utslib.location.activity	England
utslib.for	1110 Nursing
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHT - Health Technologies
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
pubs.consider-herdc	false
dc.date.updated	2020-09-30T05:29:34Z
pubs.issue	1
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	19
utslib.citation.issue	1

Abstract:

BACKGROUND:Despite 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. METHODS:The 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. RESULTS:In 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. CONCLUSIONS:The 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.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/142932