title: Toward a systematic approach to assessment and care planning in palliative care: A practical review of clinical tools.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ensuring a consistent and systematic approach to the delivery of care for people with advanced disease is a priority for palliative care services worldwide. Many clinical tools are available to aid in this process; however, they are often used sporadically, and implementation of a routine set of clinical tools to guide care planning in the specialist palliative care sector in Australia has not been achieved. This study sought to recommend key clinical tools that may assist with the assessment and care planning of specialist palliative care provision for patients and family caregivers admitted to specialist palliative care settings (home, hospital, and hospice).
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed-methods sequential approach over four phases was employed, involving: (1) a palliative care sector survey, (2) a systematic literature review, (3) an appraisal of identified clinical tools, and (4) a focus group with an expert panel who critiqued and endorsed a final suite of clinical tools recommended for specialist palliative care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve tools with practical relevance were recommended for use across settings of care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Palliative services should review current practices and seek to implement this recommended suite of tools to enhance assessment and guide care delivery across care settings. Subsequent evaluation should also occur.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care,Melbourne,Australia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care,Melbourne,Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care,Melbourne,Australia.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bostanci
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care,Melbourne,Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Willenberg
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stepanov
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care,Melbourne,Australia.
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stephanov
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.affiliation: Centre for Palliative Care,Melbourne,Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Phillip
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D017144:Focus Groups; D006285:Health Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
keywords: Assessment; Care planning; Palliative care; Tools