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An examination of the research priorities for a hospice service in New Zealand: A Delphi study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2015

Kay de Vries ,
Jo Walton ,
Katherine Nelson  and
Rhondda Knox
Kay de Vries*
Affiliation:
The University of Brighton, Westlain House, Brighton, United Kingdom
Jo Walton
Affiliation:
Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Katherine Nelson
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Nursing Midwifery & Health, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand
Rhondda Knox
Affiliation:
Independent Management Consultant-Health and Public Sector, Wellington, New Zealand
*
Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Kay De Vries, University of Brighton, School of Health Sciences, Westlain House, Falmer, Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom, BN1 9P. E-mail: l.k.devries@brighton.ac.uk
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Abstract

Objectives:

Palliative care research is relatively diverse and prioritizing research in this field is dependent on multiple factors such as complex ethical decisions in designing and conducting the research; access to participants who may be deemed “vulnerable” and an increasingly medically focused approach to care. The aim of this study was to inform organizational decision-making and policy development regarding future research priorities for a hospice service in New Zealand.

Methods:

A modified three-round Delphi technique was employed. Participants were drawn from one dedicated specialist palliative care service that delivers care in the community, day-care, hospice inpatient, aged residential care, and acute hospital palliative care service. A purposive sample included palliative care staff (n = 10, 18, 9, for rounds 1–3, respectively) volunteers (n = 10, 12, 11); and patients and family carers (n = 6, 8, for rounds 1 and 2). Patients and family carers were not involved in the third round.

Results:

At final ranking of six research themes encompassing 23 research topics were identified by staff and volunteers. These were: symptom management; aged care; education; community; patient and family; and bereavement support and young people. Patients and family carers agreed on four themes, made up of 10 research topics. These were: decision-making, bereavement and loss, symptom management; and recognition of need and response of service.

Significance of results:

The study generated a rich set of research themes and specific research topics. The perspectives of staff and volunteers are significantly different from those of patients and family members, in spite of the recognition by all concerned that palliative care services work within a philosophy of patient-centered care. Open discussion of ideas has the potential to engage both staff and patients and carers in quality improvement initiatives, and to reinforce the value of research for patient care.

Keywords

Research prioritiesPalliative careHospice staff and volunteersFamily membersDelphi technique
Type
Original Articles
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 14 , Issue 3 , June 2016 , pp. 232 - 240
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2015 

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