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Evaluating the Liverpool Care Pathway for care of the terminally ill in rural Australia.

Authors :
Wilkinson, Anne
Johnson, Claire
Walker, Helen
Colgan, Valerie
Arnet, Hayley
Rai, Tapan
Wilkinson, Anne M
Johnson, Claire E
Source :
Supportive Care in Cancer. Nov2015, Vol. 23 Issue 11, p3173-3181. 9p.
Publication Year :
2015

Abstract

<bold>Purpose: </bold>This study evaluates a pilot implementation of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), a clinical tool used to guide the care of dying patients in the last days of life, on the end-of-life care for dying patients in three regions in rural Australia.<bold>Methods: </bold>The LCP was implemented at 13 participating sites: nine hospitals (general wards), one community-based palliative care service, and three in-hospital palliative care units. To evaluate the implementation of the LCP, 415 eligible patient records were examined: 223 pre-implementation and 192 post-implementation (116 on the LCP and 76 receiving usual care). The primary analysis compared all patients pre-implementation of the LCP versus all patients post-implementation.<bold>Results: </bold>Increases were found post-implementation for communication with other health professionals and with patients or family (pre-69 %, post-87 %; p ≤ 0.000), use of palliative medications (pre-87 %, post-98 %; p ≤ 0.000) and frequency of symptom assessments (pre-66 %, post-82 %; p ≤ 0.000). Fewer blood and radiological investigations were conducted and venous access devices used in the post-implementation groups than in the pre-implementation period.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>This study suggests that when rigorously implemented, the LCP improves important components of end-of-life care for dying patients and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09414355
Volume :
23
Issue :
11
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Supportive Care in Cancer
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
109968361
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-015-2697-6