Writing information transfers for out-of-hours palliative care: a controlled trial among GPs

Scand J Prim Health Care. 2016 Jun;34(2):186-95. doi: 10.3109/02813432.2016.1163036. Epub 2016 Apr 19.

Abstract

Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effect of the implementation of an information handover form regarding patients receiving palliative care. Outcome was the information available for the out-of-hours GP co-operative.

Design: We conducted a controlled trial.

Setting: All GPs in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Intervention: The experimental group (N = 240) received an information handover form and an invitation for a one-hour training, the control group (N = 186) did not receive a handover form or training. We studied contacts with the GP co-operative concerning patients in palliative care for the presence and quality of information transferred by the patient's own GP.

Main outcome measures: Proportion of contacts in which information was available and proportion of adequate information transfer.

Results: Overall information was transferred by the GPs in 179 of the 772 first palliative contacts (23.2%). The number of contacts in the experimental group in which information was available increased significantly after intervention from 21% to 30%, compared to a decrease from 23% to 19% in the control group. The training had no additional effect. The content of the transferred information was adequate in 61.5%. There was no significant difference in the quality of the content between the groups.

Conclusion: The introduction of a handover form resulted in a moderate increase of information transfers to the GP co-operative. However, the total percentage of contacts in which this information was present remained rather low. GP co-operatives should develop additional policies to improve information transfer. Key points The out-of-hours period is potentially problematic for the delivery of optimal palliative care, often due to inadequate information transfer. Introduction of a handover form resulted in a moderate increase of transferred information. The percentage of palliative contacts remained low in cases where information was available. Adequate information was transferred in more than half of the cases.

Keywords: Education; GP co-operative; The Netherlands; general practice; out-of-hours care; palliative care; primary care.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • After-Hours Care / methods
  • Aged
  • Continuity of Patient Care* / statistics & numerical data
  • Education, Medical / methods*
  • Female
  • Focus Groups
  • General Practitioners
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Statistical
  • Netherlands
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'