Rethinking Consultation - Investigating the Perceived Work Models of a Palliative Consultation Team

• Background: Previous research has shown that palliative consultation in hospital contexts sometimes face multifaceted challenges. Possibly creat- ing barriers between the consulting team and patients in need of palliative care. Hence, there is a need to consider how we implement and perform palliative consultation to inform future initiatives. This study is part of an ongoing project with the aim to analyse the discourse around implement- ing palliative care in a hospital context. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify and analyse various work models applied in a hospital context by a palliative consultation team. Method: Repeated focus group discussions with a palliative consultation team and its managers. A total of six focus group discussions were held from April 2016 to June 2017. The focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data was read and analysed; identifying and categorising different work models. Result: According to what was expressed in the focus groups there were variations in how the consultation team operated in different hospital units and wards. Consulting as a team, consisting of a nurse, social worker and physician, was emphasised. One of the significant features was that they visited several wards on a weekly basis without receiving formal referrals beforehand. Although varying in form, the visits shared the function of being a forum for the wards to raise questions regarding palliative care relating to specific patients with palliative needs. Furthermore, during the introduction of consultation in some of the wards, the consultation team chose to designate time where a nurse from the team were present in the ward and among other things; identified patients with palliative care needs together with the ward staff and paved the way for the weekly palliative consultation.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Övrig annan medicin och hälsovetenskap (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Other Medical and Health Sciences not elsewhere specified (hsv//eng)

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