Sharing Current Scottish Practice

Poster abstracts of the month

The SPPC Annual Conference in 2017 featured 46 poster displays, sharing work and research underway across Scotland. Each month, this blog focuses on the content of a few of these posters. This month, we focus on six of these:

 

• A quality improvement approach to cognitive assessment on hospice admission: could we use the 4AT or Short CAM?
• A very expensive sticking plaster?
• Accessing Advanced Care Plans: what's in a Key Information Summary (KIS)?
• Adult and Children's Palliative Care Services Working Together to Transform Transitions through Trust and Innovation
• An Evaluation of the Lothian Palliative Care Redesign Programme
• An Innovative Approach To Community Nursing

 

01. A quality improvement approach to cognitive assessment on hospice admission: could we use the 4AT or Short CAM?

Author(s)

Dr Lucy Baird; Dr Juliet Spiller

Prevalence studies show that 13-42% of patients admitted to specialist palliative care inpatient units have delirium. Symptoms of delirium are often subtle and easily missed, or misdiagnosed as fatigue or depression, and so the use of a screening tool could improve early identification and management of delirium and lead to improved outcomes. A quality improvement (QI) approach was used to improve screening for delirium on admission to a hospice unit. A baseline measure was taken of the rate of performance of cognitive assessment on admission. Five PDSA cycles were then undertaken. The first cycle determined staff preference between two cognitive assessment methods: the Short CAM and the 4AT. Two further PDSA cycles embedded the 4AT (the preferred tool) into the admission process, establishing it as a usable tool in the hospice setting for up to 92% of admissions. A subsequent cycle showing poor sustainability prompted staff education and changes to admission documentation, resulting in an increase in cognitive assessment being performed, from 50% to 76%. The QI approach highlighted the need to link staff awareness of their use of the screening tool with perceived improvements in the treatment of delirium, which prompted the creation and implementation of a ‘Delirium Checklist’.

02. A very expensive sticking plaster?

Author(s)

Dr Sheonad Laidlaw; Dr Maire O’Riordan; Carolyn Mackay

From September 2015 – September 2016 the use of Lidocaine 5% plasters totalled 14% of Marie Curie Glasgow drug expenditure despite limited evidence on benefit in palliative care patients.

A retrospective analysis of in-patient case notes for October 2016 was undertaken. The primary aims of this analysis were: to better understand the number of patients using Lidocaine 5% plasters; to understand the rationale for prescribing this treatment and whether it is in line with current evidence and recommendations; and to reduce our total spend on a treatment of doubtful benefit.

50% patients admitted on this treatment were prescribed them appropriately as guided by Scottish Palliative Care Guidelines. 4 x patients had their treatment initiated by us inappropriately for musculoskeletal pain. 83% of patients were using 1 plaster daily, 17% using 2 daily (totally 98 plasters a week at a cost of £235.50).

We are currently assessing patient benefit at 48-hours and 1 week post admission/ initiation, and trialling a 24-hr patch free period if the pain is shown to respond to the plaster; by doing so we aim to ensure that Lidocaine plasters are only prescribed if of proven benefit and that expenditure is reduced where there is no patient benefit.

03. Accessing Advanced Care Plans: what's in a Key Information Summary (KIS)?

Author(s)

Dr Lucy Baird; Dr Jennifer A. Harrison

78% of people are admitted to hospital in their last year of life and 89% of those who die in hospital are admitted as an emergency. They often have an Anticipatory Care Plan, documented by GPs in the Key Information Summary (KIS). This can include invaluable information, but utilisation remains poor in the acute hospital setting. We aimed to find out more about the information contained in KISs and improve use of the KIS in the Acute Receiving Unit (ARU) at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh using Quality Improvement methodology. We collected data from 20 patients/month (August ‘16 to July ‘17) admitted through ARU who had a KIS. We documented what information each KIS contained, whether we judged it to be useful and if there was any record of it being utilised in the first 24 hours following admission. A staff survey was performed which looked at KIS awareness. Following departmental teaching and poster display, data collection continued to track any improvement. KIS utilisation improved marginally, from 8% to 13%, with our interventions, but overall remained poor. Information most and least likely to be included in KISs was information related to chronic diseases and patient decisions respectively.

04. Adult and Children's Palliative Care Services Working Together to Transform Transitions through Trust and Innovation

Author(s)

Liz Smith; Fiona Wylie; Jayne Grant

There is growing evidence of the increased number of young adults (YA) living with life limiting conditions in Scotland. In response to this the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice (PPWH) recognised they have a role to play in supporting YA and their family transition from paediatric to adult hospice services.

To support the above there was a need to ensure that the staff had the appropriate knowledge, skills and competence to support YA and their families.

Recognising a gap in these areas the hospice sought potential support and collaboration with Children’s Hospice Across Scotland (CHAS).The developed project aimed to support PPWH staff deliver a high standard of care to YA by addressing their learning needs through joint workshops and staff secondments to CHAS. This work supported building trust and establishing relationships between the children and adult hospice. Pre and post secondment evaluation, feedback and reflection is a key aspect of this work informing and developing the YA hospice service model.

To date this collaboration has been shown to be an effective way of influencing and managing change, building staff skills and confidence positively impacting on the patient and family experience

05. An Evaluation of the Lothian Palliative Care Redesign Programme

Author(s)

Niall Kieran; Helen Highley

Background: An independent evaluation of a collaborative programme initiative to review the local delivery of palliative care and delivery of a whole systems improvement.

Aim: The programme aimed to identify local palliative care need, working with local stakeholders to invest in identified improvement areas.

Methods: Qualitative interviews with stakeholders, individual project reports and quantitative data relating to hospital usage allowed for significant sources of evaluative data. In combining sources of data, the evaluation sought to measure both the practical impact, and the Strategic Added Value of strong partnership working

Results: A total of 8 projects were funded through the programme, with results from each project including:

ž an increase in potential number of patients identified as palliative

ž in excess of 500 social care workers receiving palliative care training

ž new model of working in Marie Curie Hospice Edinburgh

ž increased awareness raising for palliative care

ž improved experiences for employed carers

ž increase in the amount of time patients spent in their own homes and a reduction in deaths in hospital

ž befriending service launched for patients and families.

Conclusion: The investment in the programme allowed a culture of change to develop in local palliative care. In doing so, staff have benefited from increased palliative care knowledge, whilst ultimately patients now have improved outcomes and experiences.

06. An Innovative Approach To Community Nursing

Author(s)

Margaret O'Donnell

Introduction: Community palliative CNS, Margaret O’Donnell, identified many patients who were referred were in crisis with little understanding of their condition/ medications / and how to manage symptoms. To meet the needs of these patients an early intervention pilot was established

Aim: The overall aim of this pilot was to offer early intervention in symptom management and psychological support, for patients diagnosed with life limiting conditions by providing early access to specialist palliative care. The hope was that this would reduce the episodes of crisis noted by GPs and district nurses, and help to support patients and their families

Method: A seven month pilot was initiated, GP’s were asked to refer patients with life limiting illness to an outreach clinic held in the local health centre. Qualitative and quantitative audit was undertaken post pilot period. Activity at the clinic was monitored – patient referrals and outcomes, feedback regarding the care experience was sought from patients who attended the outreach clinic, healthcare professionals were asked for feedback regarding their experience of this service.

Results: Total referrals received/reason for referral/duration of care/patient outcome continuing care of patients from the pilot/other hospice services utilised

Feedback from patients and healthcare professions on their experience.

Strathcarron Hospice “Living Right up to the End” project

Talking about end of life – overcoming the barriers to community engagement.

Death, dying and bereavement are part of life, but are often seen as taboo in modern society and as a result, people miss opportunities to talk about and plan for the end of life. The Scottish Government recognised this in their Strategic Framework for Action for Palliative and End of Life care. A key outcome of the framework is that “People have opportunities to discuss and plan for future possible decline in health, preferably before a crisis occurs, and are supported to retain independence for as long as possible.”

In 2015 Strathcarron Hospice received funding from the Health and Social Care Alliance to find out what would help people to self-manage in the last year of their life so that they feel able to live well right up to the end. The Strathcarron Hospice Community Development Team set out to work with people living with long term conditions and their carers. Our aim was to find out from the people affected what would help them to live well through the challenges of declining health, and to work with them to develop community solutions.

We started by creating an asset map of the resources available in the project areas. This process revealed an array of community groups and activities which we had previously been unaware of.

Initially we identified the groups which had obvious relevance to people living with long term conditions. We approached these groups to ask them to participate in discussion. We encountered considerable reluctance to engage. The group leaders were protective of their members, making a decision on their behalf that the subject matter was too difficult.

Clearly a different approach was required.

We invested time and energy in making ourselves known and trusted in the communities. We attended third sector network events, community meetings, carers forum meetings, even a singing for memories group. We made friends and influenced people. At every opportunity we spoke about “LIVING right up to the End” and our genuine interest in hearing people’s views. We found that the Strathcarron brand was helpful as it was known and trusted, but also a hindrance because people had many misconceptions, and associated it with very end of life.

With the help of some key community players we managed to arrange events in local community venues. We provided tea and cake, and transport if required.

We asked ordinary people who had living or lived experience of the challenges of declining health about what was important to them as they approach the latter stages of life. We also asked them about the barriers to thinking about and planning for the future.

Once we had gained their trust we were overwhelmed by the willingness to share very personal experiences and thoughts.

We invited participants to join groups who would work with us over a period of 4 months to help us to really understand not only what the issues were, but also what they felt would help them. Over the 4 month period we witnessed something remarkable. The participation groups became safe places for discussion of sensitive and difficult subjects. The group supported, encouraged and respected each other.

Individuals who had initially been anxious about engaging with “the hospice” gave us feedback on the experience of being involved in the project.

One participant commented that she was often asked for feedback but had never previously felt her contribution was valuable.

Together we worked through the barriers to thinking about and planning for the future. The group felt that although they knew it was a good thing to do, they didn’t know where to start or what they should be planning for. Some had been given information by health professionals but they felt this was often given at the wrong time, or was in the wrong language. There was a strong feeling that they would not use the internet for “something as important as this” although they were happy to use it for other purposes.

The community development team gathered a large variety of materials and resources related to planning for the future, planning for end of life, and having the necessary but difficult conversations with loved ones about these plans. From these resources the participants agreed the ones which they felt would be most helpful to most people. Some participants liked the national ACP tool and were keen to use it, others felt it was “too formal, you would need professional help to fill that in.”

The resources identified were made available on “pop up information stands” which were provided at local GP surgeries. The group participants were keen to make it clear that there was no need for a professional at the pop up stands. The participants felt they were well placed to listen and respond to questions from the public.

Some of the group participants have become “ambassadors” in their local communities. They actively promote the importance of talking openly about death, dying and bereavement. They seek out venues for the information stand, and suggest changes to the materials provided in response to what they find works well.

The full report of the Living right up to the end project is available here: Living right up to the end report

Strathcarron Hospice community development team continues to explore new ways of supporting communities and individuals to manage the challenges faced in the latter stages of life.

For further information please contact Susan High, tel: 01324 826222

By Susan High, Community Development Co-ordinator, Strathcarron Hospice

Inspiring Leadership programme an investment in high quality healthcare

A new pilot project offers a safe haven for band six palliative care clinical nurse specialists to share and learn from each other.

A group of eight band six clinical nurse specialists are the first to take part in a new Inspiring Leadership programme, jointly delivered by The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice, Accord Hospice and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Education for Scotland.

Masterclasses and workshops are combined with action learning and a quality improvement project, and participants have the opportunity to have their work accredited by Glasgow Caledonian University at Masters level.

“The 12-month programme was set up after recognising a potential gap in knowledge. Band six clinical nurse specialists in palliative care are working in a time of organisational change with increasing complexity around their specialist role. Some staff have reported feeling vulnerable and anxious as they struggle to deliver high levels of care to patients and families,” explained Jane Miller, education facilitator at The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice.

“It now offers a safe space for clinical nurse specialists taking part to share and learn from each other, while embedding the values, behaviours and attitudes of leadership skills.

“This provides a foundation to support greater successional planning in palliative care and increase the knowledge of those taking part, as well as their understanding of quality improvement methodology supporting individual quality improvement action plans.”

A key goal is to provide training in leadership for this cohort of palliative care nurses alongside robust evaluation of the programme with the view to this becoming a nationally recognised palliative care leadership programme.

“Newly appointed staff, in particular, have been reporting an increase in stress levels within their teams, and with the number of band six palliative care clinical nurse specialists in acute settings increasing, it is essential to support and develop them,” added Jane.

“A move towards mentorship and succession planning paved the way for this new programme. It now provides an opportunity to continue building leadership capacity across NHSGGC palliative care teams and ensure we have leaders who are prepared for senior strategic roles in the future.

“The progamme calls for a high level of investment from those taking part, as well as the hospices involved. An investment in leadership is an investment in high quality healthcare – essential to delivering the future in NHS Scotland.”

By the end of the exercise, clinical nurse specialists taking part will have had a chance to build their self awareness, personal effectiveness and resilience. They will also be able to show leadership behaviour that is consistent with creating an enabling culture to transform services for patients and families.

Providing effective leadership and management in teams and across professional and organisational boundaries will focus on service excellence. And creating the conditions for staff to play to their strengths, think creatively and work collaboratively will overcome obstacles in the change process.

At the end of the programme, a celebratory event in February 2018 will give those taking part an opportunity to showcase their Quality Improvement Project work.

By Angela McManus, Communications manager, The Prince & Princess of Wales Hospice

Poster Abstracts of the month: September

The SPPC Annual Conference in 2016 featured 36 poster displays, sharing work and research underway across Scotland. Each month, this blog focuses on the content of a few of these posters. This month, we focus on:

• "The Breath of Life: The Whole Shebang!" A Quality Improvement Project to Develop a Self-Management Programme for Breathlessness
• The Development of Carer Services within the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice
• Turning Best Supportive Care into Active Care. A service development for patients with advanced lung cancer
• Understanding complex need in palliative care: the perceptions of professionals across 3 settings

"The Breath of Life: The Whole Shebang!" A Quality Improvement Project to Develop a Self-Management Programme for Breathlessness

Author(s)

Dadd M, Milligan S, Mills A, Murray R, Park R, Rooney KD and Sime C

Background: Breathlessness is a distressing and complex symptom that can profoundly affect a person’s life, leading to loss of independence, increased distress and reduced quality of life. Evidence suggests that in conjunction with optimised medications, teaching people self-management techniques and offering psychological support can improve physical well-being, personal coping strategies and quality of life.

Project Aim: To develop a sustainable 12 week self-management programme for people living with end stage breathlessness.

Methods: Utilising the model for improvement, the multidisciplinary team set an aim, and developed a change package informed by current evidence. Continuous Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles were used to improve the programme. Twelve potential participants were identified and four accepted the invitation and completed the programme.

Results: Improvements were identified in participant’s social capital, long-term coping strategies and self-management of their breathlessness. However, the patient-reported outcome measures demonstrated few sustained improvements in symptom burden.

Conclusion: In keeping with current evidence, this project found most people living with breathlessness do not require a self-management programme. However, this pilot confirmed there is a need to provide additional support for some people living with complex symptoms. Furthermore, using a continuous improvement approach facilitated the co-production of a successful self-management programme.

The Development of Carer Services within the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice

Author(s)

McCaffrey S and McNair T

The Carers Choice Service offers carers of people with palliative care needs with an opportunity to have a short break from their caring role, safe in the knowledge that their loved one is being cared for in their absence. The Bereavement visitor’s service offers a service of support to family members who are experiencing normal grief, with well trained and supervised volunteers. Both services offer the flexibility of being seen in your own home.

The poster highlights the development of Carer Services within the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.

Feedback from carers describe the benefits of accessing supports away from the cared for person’s home. However they also describe the stress and anxiety about leaving the cared for person on their own, particularly when the caring role becomes more demanding or the health of the cared for person is less stable or predictable. Developing a therapeutic befriending service for patients, will allow the carer to have a break from caring with the knowledge that their cared for person is well looked after, with both the carer and cared for person benefitting from the project.

Following the death of patients, carers are offered a wide range of services by the family support service, one of which is one to one counselling. However, a large number of bereaved family members experience normal grief, which does not require formal counselling. The bereavement visitor’s service fulfils this role. Offering knowledge and understanding of normal grief process provided in the bereaved persons home.

Turning Best Supportive Care into Active Care. A service development for patients with advanced lung cancer

Author(s)

Bowden J, Boyce S, Fenning S, Macpherson C, and Scragg S

In Southeast Scotland, approximately 40% of patients with lung cancer are for ‘best supportive care’ at diagnosis. Many more transition into BSC following palliative treatment/disease relapse. But there is no consensus about what constitutes BSC and who should deliver it. As a consequence, patients, carers and families can enter a care void and professionals are unclear about who is providing what support.

For those in the BSC category, survival is usually in the order of weeks. High rates of comorbidity and socioeconomic deprivation coinciding with rapidly progressive and symptomatic cancer, predisposes patients to apparently unpredictable crises and hospital admissions.

Our NHS Fife palliative care service, supported by Macmillan and government funding, has developed an early palliative care intervention for patients with lung cancer for BSC. We now see all such patients from the point of diagnosis, in all care settings.

We report evaluation findings following 18 months of the pilot service, including our impact on quality of care and experience, hospital admissions and place of death. We consider which other patients, with both cancer and non-cancer diagnoses, might benefit from a ‘BSC’ approach. Finally we reflect upon the challenges of developing, delivering and evaluating a new service.

Understanding complex need in palliative care: the perceptions of professionals across 3 settings

Author(s)

Carduff E, Finucane A, Johnston S, Morrish J, Spiller J and Winstanley C

Introduction: Complex needs for palliative care patients are not well defined, yet clarity is necessary to meet the needs of patients and their families in all settings.

Aim: To explore professionals’ understandings of patient complexity in palliative care across 3 settings.

Methods: We triangulated the findings from 3 qualitative studies. Interviews were conducted with professionals from primary, specialist palliative and acute care, coded thematically and analysed by each study researcher, independently. As a team, a framework was devised to comprehensively collate, compare and contrast all three sets of results.

Results: Thirty-four interviews were conducted. A number of themes spanned all three settings. The interaction between diverse physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs, existing co-morbidities, intractable symptoms and complicated social issues exacerbated patient complexity. Poor communication was highlighted, particularly between generalists and specialists, although primary care professionals highlighted the potential of electronic care summaries. Generalists felt they lacked skill in identifying and caring for complex patients and time for professional development in palliative care.

Conclusion: Patient complexity is influenced by patient and environmental factors which are specific to each setting. Better communication between disciplines and a clear definition of complexity will improve the identification of patients for specialist palliative care.