What are patients' priorities for palliative care research? Focus group study.
To elucidate the research priorities of palliative care patients we conducted focus groups with day therapy and hospice in-patients with cancer with an estimated prognosis of 6 months or less. Patients were positive about taking part in this research project identifying five main priorities for future research--talking with patients; help for patients and families; oncology; symptoms; medication/treatments. Patients gave great emphasis to communication issues and little to symptom control. A patient questionnaire was created with these themes which is currently being used in five hospices across East Anglia. This paper describes the qualitative component of the study.
Perkins
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P
Sue Ryder Care St John's Hospice, Moggerhanger and Hinchingbrooke Hospital, Huntingdon, UK. paul.perkins@suerydercare.org
Barclay
S
S
Booth
S
S
D001290:Attitude; D003142:Communication; D017144:Focus Groups; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012107:Research Design