title: The Impact of a Novel Tool for Comprehensive Assessment of Palliative Care (MPCAT) on Assessment Outcome at 6- and 12-Month Follow-Up.
abstract: Assessment in palliative care settings should be focused, sensitive, specific, and effective to minimize discomfort to vulnerable and often highly morbid patients. This report describes the development of an admission assessment protocol for a Specialist Palliative Care Inpatient Unit and its implementation into clinical practice.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to develop and investigate the impact of the implementation of a Specialist Palliative Care admission assessment tool on documentation of key patient needs.
  
  
  
  The outcome of a systematic literature review was used to develop an admission assessment protocol (the intervention) in a Specialist Palliative Care Inpatient Unit. Mixed methods were used to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation pre- and post-intervention to test the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of the intervention.
  
  
  
  The documented evidence of pain assessment improved from a baseline rate of 71% to 100% post-intervention. This improvement was maintained 12 months post-introduction of the tool (P < 0.001). The documented evidence of screening for spiritual distress increased from a baseline rate of 23% to 70% at 6 months and to 82% at 12 months (P < 0.001). The number of referrals made in the first 24 hours after assessment increased post-intervention (physiotherapy, P = 0.001; occupational therapy, P = 0.001; social work, P = 0.005; pastoral care, P = 0.005); this was maintained at 12 months. Significantly, more clinicians (88%) agreed that palliative care domains were comprehensively assessed post-intervention in comparison with 59% pre-intervention (P = 0.01).
  
  
  
  Introducing the Milford Palliative Care Assessment Tool was associated with significant improvement in assessment of multiple important aspects of patient need.
authors.affiliation: Milford Hospice, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland. Electronic address: m.oreilly@milfordcarecentre.ie.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Larkin
authors.affiliation: Milford Hospice, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conroy
authors.affiliation: Milford Hospice, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Feargal
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.affiliation: Milford Hospice, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Micheal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucey
authors.affiliation: Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Colum
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dunne
authors.affiliation: Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Meagher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010343:Patient Admission; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Palliative care; assessment; pain; physical; psychological; spirituality