Department of Palliative Medicine, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Palliat Med. 2012 Dec;26(8):1011-7. doi: 10.1177/0269216311425097. Epub 2011 Oct 17.
Since the medical specialty of palliative medicine was recognized in 1988, the role of hospital specialist palliative care services has been developing, extending to patients who have a life-limiting illness but are not in the terminal phase.
This qualitative study aims to explore patient and carer perspectives of the role of palliative care in the acute hospital setting, with patients not imminently dying.
Semi-structured interviews with 12 patients and 10 carers. Data were analysed using framework analysis.
SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Patients recruited were adults who had palliative care input for symptom control or psychological support and were discharged either to general ward care or to home. The family member/friend designated as their carer was also approached to take part.
All patients in this study were treated in an acute hospital, described as a bewildering and pressured environment of care. Initial perceptions of palliative care were varied, some interpreting referral as an indication that they were approaching the end of life. However, after palliative care input, patients and carers developed an understanding of their role which they saw as three-fold: physical symptom control, psychological support and a reliable liaison. The theme of cross-cutting interviews was that the palliative care team made time for patients, giving them a sense of value and worth. Feeling their care was a priority and being listened to made palliative care input effective.
These findings will aid continuing development and evaluation of palliative care teams, in the domains of effectiveness as well as patient experience.
自 1988 年姑息医学被确认为医学专科以来，医院专科姑息治疗服务的角色一直在发展，延伸到患有绝症但尚未进入终末期的患者。
本定性研究旨在探讨患者和照护者对姑息治疗在急性医院环境中的作用的看法，这些患者并非即将死亡。
对 12 名患者和 10 名照护者进行半结构化访谈。使用框架分析对数据进行分析。
地点/参与者：招募的患者为接受姑息治疗以控制症状或心理支持并出院至普通病房护理或回家的成年人。还联系了他们指定的家庭成员/朋友作为他们的照护者参与。
本研究中的所有患者均在急性医院接受治疗，被描述为一个令人困惑和充满压力的护理环境。他们对姑息治疗的最初看法各不相同，有些人将转诊解释为他们即将走到生命尽头的迹象。然而，在接受姑息治疗后，患者和照护者对他们的角色有了理解，他们认为姑息治疗的角色有三个方面：身体症状控制、心理支持和可靠的联络。贯穿访谈主题是姑息治疗团队为患者腾出时间，让他们感到自己的价值和重要性。他们感到自己的护理是优先事项，并且得到了倾听，这使姑息治疗的效果显著。
这些发现将有助于姑息治疗团队在有效性和患者体验方面的持续发展和评估。
