title: The benefits of a palliative care network: a case study in Quebec, Canada.
abstract: This article aims to present the beneficial effects associated with the local implementation of an integrated network in palliative care, as perceived by diverse constituency groups. A case study was conducted in the province of Quebec, Canada, using individual (n=16) and group (n=16) interviews, with a total of 106 participants (i.e. managers and formal and informal caregivers). From a content analysis, two categories of beneficial effects emerged: those associated with professional practice and those with patient services. The most important effects of this organisational initiative were found to be the recognition of the palliative care domain necessitating specialized competencies, an improved interdisciplinary collaboration, and more efficient circulation of information between care settings, as well as improved accessibility, continuity and quality of care and services to patients at the end of life.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Universite Laval, Quebec, Canada. diane.morin@fsi.ulaval.ca
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saint-Laurent
authors.forename: Marie-Pier
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bresse
authors.forename: Clemence
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dallaire
authors.forename: Lise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fillion
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006270:Health Facility Administrators / Q000523:psychology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000458:organization & administration; D008503:Medical Staff / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011792:Quebec; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires