Structure and Process Evaluation of an APRN-Led Palliative Care Consultation Service
Loading...
Date
2011-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The Ohio State University
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the structures and processes of the APRN-led Palliative Care at Grant consultation service in relation to the national guidelines developed by the National Consensus Project for Quality Clinical Palliative Care (NCP, 2009). Methods: The project was a cross-sectional case study of the views of the members of the Palliative Care at Grant team with respect to the appropriateness, presence, degree of implementation, and priority for attending to 39 criteria of Domain I: Structure and Processes of the NCP guideline. Demographic data were collected from the team. Evaluative data were collected using a modified form of an existing questionnaire. Once the data from the questionnaire were analyzed, a focus group interview was held to explicate the groups' thoughts on items that were of high priority. Analysis: The transcript was content analyzed to uncover recommendations for structure and process improvement and other issues to improve service. Results: Seven of eight participants returned questionnaires and five of eight participants attended the focus group. Of the 39 criteria, 38 were deemed appropriate to the service and of those, 32 were already present in the Palliative Care at Grant service. Twenty-seven recommendations were developed for implementing or improving 15 high-priority criteria. Conclusions: The service aligns with the consensus-based criteria, but work needs to be done to bring the service into full compliance. The results, implications for nursing and the alignment of this translational project with national goals for doctoral preparation for advanced nursing practice are discussed.
Description
Keywords
palliative care, program evaluation, advanced practice nursing, national guidelines, methodology