In a study by Bainbridge, D., & Seow, H. (2018), the Pain Assessment Tool was used as a physiological measure to assess the quality of palliative care in residential hospices, hospitals, and residences. This instrument was applied to evaluate patients’ pain levels during the last three months of their lives.
The researchers verified the accuracy and reliability of this method by conducting preliminary testing with a group of grieving caregivers to confirm its ability to precisely measure patients’ reported pain levels. The research also used the FAMCARE scale to assess the general well-being of individuals receiving palliative care. The scientists confirmed the tool’s validity by subjecting it to expert evaluation and comparing it with other known quality-of-life measures.
In this article, a significant statistical result at the alpha level was that patients cared for in residential hospices expressed greater satisfaction with their treatment than those cared for in hospitals or at home. One statistically significant finding in the findings section was substantial disparities in the perceived quality of treatment between hospice and other care settings.
Accordingly, “Approximately 85% of caregivers had an extremely positive experience in hospice, but this percentage decreased significantly to roughly 50% for the MRP and much lower for care provided in the home, cancer center, and hospital” (Bainbridge & Seow, 2018), p.459. The findings confirmed that specialist palliative care facilities provide superior end-of-life care compared to conventional hospital settings or home-based care.
Bainbridge and Seow concluded in the discussion section that residential hospices provide higher-quality end-of-life care than hospitals or home-based settings, supported by statistically significant results from their research. They stressed the need to offer specialist palliative care treatments in designated hospice facilities to enhance patients’ functional status and overall quality of life in their last months. For both VOICES and FEHC caregivers, a key factor contributing to increased satisfaction with hospice care was the quality and personalized approach to communication, including the delivery of information.
Reference
Bainbridge, D., & Seow, H. (2018). Palliative care experience in the last 3 months of life: A quantitative comparison of care provided in residential hospices, hospitals, and the home from the perspectives of bereaved caregivers. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 35(3), 456–463.