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CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
A Point Prevalence Study of Need and Provision of Palliative Care in Adult and Medical Surgical Inpatients
Journal of clinical nursing, Vol.34(11), pp.4865-4873
2025
PMID: 40207675
Appears in Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements
Abstract
Aim
To gain an understanding of palliative care need and provision in adult medical and surgical inpatients.
Design
An observational point prevalence study was conducted across four study sites in Western Australia.
Methods
All data were collected directly from patient medical records by Registered Nurses. Potential palliative care need was assessed using disease-specific indicators for the 12 conditions outlined in the Gold Standards Framework Proactive Indicator Guidance.
Results
A total of 865 medical and surgical inpatients met study inclusion criteria. Across the four study sites, 38% (n = 331) of adult inpatients reviewed could have potentially benefitted from palliative care. Of the n = 331 patients assessed as having indicators for palliative care, there was evidence that 27% (n = 90) were currently receiving some form of palliative care, while 3% (n = 9) had been referred for specialist palliative care. For the majority of patients (70%, n = 232) there was no evidence of them receiving any form of palliative care or awaiting specialist palliative care.
Conclusion
This study identified high levels of potential palliative care need among adult medical and surgical inpatients. The majority of the patients identified as having indicators for palliative care were not receiving any form of palliative care.
Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care
The high prevalence of palliative care need found in this study highlights that recognising and addressing palliative care is essential for high-quality care for medical and surgical inpatients. To address the high level of need identified all nurses require basic palliative care training to provide optimal patient care.
Impact
Knowledge about the level of palliative care need and provision of palliative care in public hospitals was limited. This study identified a high prevalence of potential palliative care need in medical and surgical inpatients. The majority of patients with indicators for palliative care were not receiving any form of palliative care. This research demonstrates that palliative care needs should be considered by all registered nurses and other health professionals caring for medical and surgical inpatients.
Reporting Method
The study is reported using the STROBE guidelines.
Patient or Public Contribution
No patient or public contribution.
Details
- Title
- A Point Prevalence Study of Need and Provision of Palliative Care in Adult and Medical Surgical Inpatients
- Authors/Creators
- Alannah Cooper - Murdoch University, School of NursingDipna Martin-Robins - Merseburg University of Applied SciencesNatalie Panizza - Royal Perth HospitalSally Coppock - Royal Perth HospitalJanie A. Brown - Curtin University
- Publication Details
- Journal of clinical nursing, Vol.34(11), pp.4865-4873
- Publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Royal Perth Hospital Research FoundationCouncil of Australian University Librarians
We would like to thank the Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation for supporting this research. Open access publishing facilitated by Murdoch University, as part of the Wiley - Murdoch University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.
- Identifiers
- 991005765532707891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Nursing
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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Metrics
21 Record Views
InCites Highlights
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.112 Palliative Care
- 1.112.237 End-of-Life Care
- Web Of Science research areas
- Nursing
- ESI research areas
- Clinical Medicine