Wilson, F. orcid.org/0000-0003-1617-2854 and Gardiner, C. orcid.org/0000-0003-1785-7054 (2021) Candidates and candidacy : patient, carer and staff perceptions of referral to a specialist palliative day unit. Progress in Palliative Care, 29 (5). pp. 278-284. ISSN 0969-9260
Abstract
Background
Specialist palliative day care can support palliative caregiving for those living in the community with advanced disease. However, how people access specialist palliative day care and why is unclear. This study therefore aims to explore the referral experiences of patients, carers and staff in the context of a specialist palliative day care unit.
Design
Qualitative study using constant comparative analysis to explore referral experiences to a UK specialist palliative day unit through one-to-one interviews with patients (n=15), family carers (n=6) and staff (n=10) including nurses, medics and managers and focus groups with (n=3 and n=7) specialist palliative care nurses.
Findings
The three datasets (staff, patients and carers) provide a triangulation of perspectives captured within the core category of ‘managing referral’ and presented as six sub-themes. Staff described referral as an intuitive interaction involving ‘looking for openings’ and ‘getting people through the door’. Patients familiar with the service were persistent in ‘shouting for help’ but most regarded referral with dread, only ‘giving it a go’ following crisis. For family carers referral presented ‘time out/respite’ but also the ‘end-of-the-line’.
Conclusions
Unclear understandings of services as well as uncertain professional, patient and carers notions of candidacy influence referral to specialist palliative day care.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. |
Keywords: | Specialist palliative care day unit; day hospice; candidacy; referral |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Sheffield |
Date Deposited: | 11 May 2022 08:22 |
Last Modified: | 11 May 2022 08:22 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1080/09699260.2021.1872150 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:186609 |