Improving hospital-based end of life care processes and outcomes: a systematic review of research output, quality and effectiveness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As in other areas of health delivery, there is a need to ensure that end-of-life care is guided by patient centred research. A systematic review was undertaken to examine the quantity and quality of data-based research aimed at improving the (a) processes and (b) outcomes associated with delivering end-of-life care in hospital settings.

Methods

Medline, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched between 1995 and 2015 for data-based papers. Eligible papers were classified as descriptive, measurement or intervention studies. Intervention studies were categorised according to whether the primary aim was to improve: (a) end of life processes (i.e. end-of-life documentation and discussions, referrals); or (b) end-of-life outcomes (i.e. perceived quality of life, healt

SUBMITTER: Waller A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5438503 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature