Development of Palliative Care Model for End Stage Cancer Patients: the Seamless Care of Phraputhabat Hospital Network

Abstract

This action research aimed to develop the seamless of palliative care model for the end stage cancer patients in Phraputhabat Hospital network. Research participants were 41 multidisciplinary persons, 31 end stage cancer patients, and 31 important caregivers. Data from the first stage of study was collected from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with multidisciplinary team for analysis gap and development care model; and those from the second stage of study by using and revising model. The success model for end stage cancer patients included 3 aspects: (1) advance care plan, (2) holistic care with LIFESS, and (3) the last day of life care collaborating with the Continuity of Care Center in Phraputabat Hospital network. The third stage of study was to evaluate the care model with (1) palliative care outcome scale: POS, (2) caregiver satisfactions inventory, and (3) multidisciplinary team satisfactions inventory. Results of using this model showed that mean score of POS on the fifth day of nursing care were statistically significantly better the before the program (p<0.05). The mean score of caregivers and multidisciplinary team satisfactions were at high level (mean=4.17, SD=2.11; and mean=4.14, SD=0.007, respectively). The findings indicated that this model was advantageous for end stage patients to decrease suffering, particularly the continuing service through community-based care. The key successes were team network, passion, and network strengthening.