"Help with rowing the boat": Implementing and evaluating the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care program in four Canadian provinces.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite high mortality rates in long-term care (LTC), LTC homes continue to struggle to implement a palliative approach to care.

Objectives

The objective of this research was to implement and evaluate the Strengthening a Palliative Approach in Long-Term Care (SPA-LTC; www.spaltc.ca) program. Specifically, we explored its feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects on resident comfort, use of emergency department at end-of-life (EOL), and location of resident death.

Design

This study used an explanatory mixed method design in four LTC homes; one in each of four provinces (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta) in Canada to assess acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary effects of the program.

Methods

Quantitative and qualitative data we

SUBMITTER: Kaasalainen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12415342 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature