Family And Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions Of A Pilot Hospice At Home Programme For Children: A Qualitative Study
Title
Family And Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions Of A Pilot Hospice At Home Programme For Children: A Qualitative Study
Creator
Maria Brenner; Michael Connolly; Des Cawley; Frances Howlin; Jay Berry; Claire Quinn
Identifier
DOI: 10.1186/s12904-016-0161-0
Publisher
Bmc Palliative Care
Date
2016
Subject
Adaptation Psychological; Attitude Of Health Personnel; Child; Child Health Services; Critical Illness/psychology; Disabled Children; Family/psychology; Female; Hospice Care/psychology; Humans; Interviews As Topic; Male; Nurses/psychology; Pilot Projects
Hospice And Palliative Care Nursing; Child Family Qualitative Research
Description
Background
Parents commonly report a significant improvement in quality of life following the provision of hospice and supportive care and have identified a need for such a service in the home. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of families receiving a nurse led pilot hospice at home programme and the experiences of healthcare professionals delivering and engaging with the programme.
Methods
An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted, including telephone interviews with parents and focus groups and individual interviews with healthcare professionals. All parents of families who received the programme of care between June 2014 and September 2015 and healthcare professionals delivering and engaging with the programme were invited to participate.
Results
Seven parents participated in telephone interviews. Four focus groups took place, two with external stakeholders (18 participants in total), one with in-patient hospice staff (13 participants) and one with the hospice at home team (8 participants). Two additional interviews took place with individual stakeholders who were unable to attend a scheduled focus group. Themes from interviews with parents focused on the value of having consistent and expert care. The findings from healthcare professionals centred on communication within and across services, education and training and lone working.
Conclusions
The pilot hospice at home programme was welcomed by all those who took part in the study. The programme may be improved by enhanced clarification of roles, enhanced access to multi-disciplinary services, greater communication across services and improved information provision to families.
Parents commonly report a significant improvement in quality of life following the provision of hospice and supportive care and have identified a need for such a service in the home. The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of families receiving a nurse led pilot hospice at home programme and the experiences of healthcare professionals delivering and engaging with the programme.
Methods
An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted, including telephone interviews with parents and focus groups and individual interviews with healthcare professionals. All parents of families who received the programme of care between June 2014 and September 2015 and healthcare professionals delivering and engaging with the programme were invited to participate.
Results
Seven parents participated in telephone interviews. Four focus groups took place, two with external stakeholders (18 participants in total), one with in-patient hospice staff (13 participants) and one with the hospice at home team (8 participants). Two additional interviews took place with individual stakeholders who were unable to attend a scheduled focus group. Themes from interviews with parents focused on the value of having consistent and expert care. The findings from healthcare professionals centred on communication within and across services, education and training and lone working.
Conclusions
The pilot hospice at home programme was welcomed by all those who took part in the study. The programme may be improved by enhanced clarification of roles, enhanced access to multi-disciplinary services, greater communication across services and improved information provision to families.
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Citation List Month
October 2016 List
Citation
Maria Brenner; Michael Connolly; Des Cawley; Frances Howlin; Jay Berry; Claire Quinn, “Family And Healthcare Professionals’ Perceptions Of A Pilot Hospice At Home Programme For Children: A Qualitative Study,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed April 25, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/10655.