A qualitative exploration of the collaborative working between palliative care and geriatric medicine: Barriers and facilitators from a European perspective

BMC Palliative Care

Research Article

P. Vanden Berghe¹  S. Pautex²  L. Van den Block³  N. Van Den Noortgate⁴  Gwenda Albers⁵  K. Froggatt⁶  G. Gambassi⁷ 

[1] Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium;Division of Primary Care, University Hospitals Geneva, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland;End-of-life Care Research Group, Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and Ghent University, Brussels, Belgium;Federation Palliative Care of Flanders (FPCF), Vilvoorde, Belgium;Federation Palliative Care of Flanders (FPCF), Vilvoorde, Belgium;Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium;International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK;Istituto di Medicina Interna e Geriatria, Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy;

关键词: Palliative Care;    Advance Care Planning;    Geriatric Medicine;    Palliative Care Service;    Specialist Palliative Care;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12904-016-0118-3

 received in 2015-12-20, accepted in 2016-04-26,  发布年份 2016

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWith an increasing number of people dying in old age, collaboration between palliative care and geriatric medicine is increasingly being advocated in order to promote better health and health care for the increasing number of older people. The aim of this study is to identify barriers and facilitators and good practice examples of collaboration and integration between palliative care and geriatric medicine from a European perspective.MethodsFour semi-structured group interviews were undertaken with 32 participants from 18 countries worldwide. Participants were both clinicians (geriatricians, GPs, palliative care specialists) and academic researchers. The interviews were transcribed and independent analyses performed by two researchers who then reached consensus.ResultsLimited knowledge and understanding of what the other discipline offers, a lack of common practice and a lack of communication between disciplines and settings were considered as barriers for collaboration between palliative care and geriatric medicine. Multidisciplinary team working, integration, strong leadership and recognition of both disciplines as specialties were considered as facilitators of collaborative working. Whilst there are instances of close clinical working between disciplines, examples of strategic collaboration in education and policy were more limited.ConclusionsImproving knowledge about its principles and acquainting basic palliative care skills appears mandatory for geriatricians and other health care professionals. In addition, establishing more academic chairs is seen as a priority in order to develop more education and development at the intersection of palliative care and geriatric medicine.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Albers et al. 2016