bucknall-thestudyprotocol-2014.pdf (268.49 kB)
The study protocol of: 'initiating end of life care in stroke: clinical decision- making around prognosis'
journal contribution
posted on 2014-12-05, 00:00 authored by Christopher R Burton, Sheila Payne, Mary Turner, Tracey BucknallTracey Bucknall, Jo Rycroft-Malone, Pippa Tyrrell, Maria Horne, Lupetu Ives Ntambwe, Sarah Tyson, Helen Mitchell, Sion Williams, Salah ElghenzaiBackground: The initiation of end of life care in an acute stroke context should be focused on those patients and families with greatest need. This requires clinicians to synthesise information on prognosis, patterns (trajectories) of dying and patient and family preferences. Within acute stroke, prognostic models are available to identify risks of dying, but variability in dying trajectories makes it difficult for clinicians to know when to commence palliative interventions. This study aims to investigate clinicians’ use of different types of evidence in decisions to initiate end of life care within trajectories typical of the acute stroke population.
Methods/design: This two-phase, mixed methods study comprises investigation of dying trajectories in acute stroke (Phase 1), and the use of clinical scenarios to investigate clinical decision-making in the initiation of palliative care (Phase 2). It will be conducted in four acute stroke services in North Wales and North West England. Patient and public involvement is integral to this research, with service users involved at each stage.
Discussion: This study will be the first to examine whether patterns of dying reported in other diagnostic groups are transferable to acute stroke care. The strengths and limitations of the study will be considered. This research will produce comprehensive understanding of the nature of clinical decision-making around end of life care in an acute stroke context, which in turn will inform the development of interventions to further build staff knowledge, skills and confidence in this challenging aspect of acute stroke care.
Methods/design: This two-phase, mixed methods study comprises investigation of dying trajectories in acute stroke (Phase 1), and the use of clinical scenarios to investigate clinical decision-making in the initiation of palliative care (Phase 2). It will be conducted in four acute stroke services in North Wales and North West England. Patient and public involvement is integral to this research, with service users involved at each stage.
Discussion: This study will be the first to examine whether patterns of dying reported in other diagnostic groups are transferable to acute stroke care. The strengths and limitations of the study will be considered. This research will produce comprehensive understanding of the nature of clinical decision-making around end of life care in an acute stroke context, which in turn will inform the development of interventions to further build staff knowledge, skills and confidence in this challenging aspect of acute stroke care.
History
Journal
BMC palliative careVolume
13Article number
55Publisher
BioMed CentralLocation
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
ISSN
1472-684XLanguage
EnglishPublication classification
C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal; C Journal articleCopyright notice
2014, BioMed CentralUsage metrics
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