The imPaCT study: evaluating hospital palliative care
Author Information
Author(s): Hanks G W, Robbins M, Sharp D, Forbes K, Done K, Peters T J, Morgan H, Sykes J, Baxter K, Corfe F, Bidgood C
Primary Institution: University of Bristol
Hypothesis
Does a hospital Palliative Care Team improve patient outcomes compared to limited telephone advice?
Conclusion
Both models of palliative care provided high-quality management, but no significant differences were found between them.
Supporting Evidence
- 261 patients were recruited from 684 new inpatient referrals.
- Patients in both groups showed significant improvements in symptoms and quality of life.
- Satisfaction with care was high in both treatment groups.
Takeaway
This study looked at how well a hospital palliative care team helps patients compared to just giving advice over the phone. Both ways were good, but one didn't work better than the other.
Methodology
A randomised controlled trial comparing a full palliative care team with a telephone advice service.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to non-randomised patients being more ill and receiving more intensive care.
Limitations
Only 38% of eligible patients were randomised, and the control group may have received more structured care than intended.
Participant Demographics
Patients included those with cancer and non-cancer diagnoses, with a mean survival of 76.3 days post-referral.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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