Decision-making by GPs about the Palliative Care Register
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Decision-making by GPs about the Palliative Care Register
IRAS ID
276697
Contact name
Gill Hubbard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UHI
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Every General Practice keeps a Palliative Care Register to help the Practice care for people who need palliative care. There are two methods for identifying patients for the register: (1) GPs at the Practice decide which patients to put on their palliative care register (2) A Practice can run an automatic computerised search of primary care electronic patient data. The first method relies on GP judgement to identify patients and the second method identifies patients automatically.
In this study, we will work with three General Practices in NHS Highland who are already using both methods to identify patients for the register. We will ask a GP to look at the computer generated list of patients and ask them to ‘think aloud’ as they decide whether to put the patient on the palliative care register. We will record this interview and produce a transcript and search for themes about decision-making surrounding the register.
Patients already on the Palliative Care Register and a family member who is nominated by them will be invited to participate in a patient or carer focus group. We will find out their views about the use of automated computer searches to identify patients for the register and their views about factors that influence decision-making by GPs and communication about palliative care. We will record the focus group and produce a transcript and search for themes about methods for identifying patients for the register and communication about the register.
Greater understanding of GP decision-making and patient and carer views has the potential to lead to improvements in the use of the register. We will use the findings to recommend to General Practices ways to improve identifying patients for the register and communicating with patients about the register.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
20/ES/0003
Date of REC Opinion
13 Jan 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion