title: Developing a computerised search to help UK General Practices identify more patients for palliative care planning: a feasibility study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 600,000 people die in the UK annually, usually after months or years of increasing debility. Many patients with advanced conditions are not identified for appropriate support before they die because they are not seen as having "palliative" care needs. General practice information technology systems can improve care by identifying patients with deteriorating health so that their healthcare needs can be reviewed more systematically and effectively. The aim was to develop and test a computerised search of primary care records in routine clinical practice as a tool to improve patient identification for a palliative care approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  An iterative process of search design and testing followed by implementation and extended testing of the search output in clinical practice. A three-phase feasibility study: developing a computerised search, determining its ability to identify patients with deteriorating health from any advanced condition, and assessing how primary care clinicians use the results to improve patient care. The setting was twelve primary care teams in two Health Boards in Scotland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The search identified 0.6-1.7 % of patients in each practice who were not already on the palliative care register. Primary care clinicians judged that 30-60 % of these patients were at risk of dying or deterioration over the next 6-12 months. The most common action taken by GPs was to start an electronic anticipatory care plan.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible to significantly improve the identification of patients for palliative care needs assessment using a computerised search however barriers remain to GPs' finding it acceptable. Time-efficient systems were important as was a generic tool for anticipatory care planning not linked to 'palliative' care.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. Bruce.Mason@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. Kirsty.Boyd@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. Scott.Murray@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. John.Steyn@lothian.scot.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steyn
authors.affiliation: NHS Borders, Melrose, Roxburghshire, UK. paul.cormie@borders.scot.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cormie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. Marilyn.Kendall@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Medical School Building, Gibbet Hill Campus, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4, UK. D.Munday@warwick.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Munday
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. David.Weller@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weller
authors.affiliation: NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK. Shirley.Fife@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fife
authors.affiliation: Centre of Academic Primary Care, Division of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK. p.murchie@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Murchie
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Medical School, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, UK. Christine.Campbell@ed.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D058006:General Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012606:Scotland