The imPaCT study: a randomised controlled trial to evaluate a hospital palliative care team.

Full Abstract

A randomised controlled trial was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of a hospital Palliative Care Team (PCT) on physical symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL); patient, family carer and primary care professional reported satisfaction with care; and health service resource use. The full package of advice and support provided by a multidisciplinary specialist PCT ('full-PCT') was compared with limited telephone advice ('telephone-PCT', the control group) in the setting of a teaching hospital trust in the SW of England. The trial recruited 261 out of 684 new inpatient referrals; 175 were allocated to 'full-PCT', 86 to 'telephone-PCT' (2 : 1 randomisation); with 191 (73%) being assessed at 1 week. There were highly significant improvements in symptoms, HRQoL, mood and 'emotional bother' in 'full-PCT' at 1 week, maintained over the 4-week follow-up. A smaller effect was seen in 'telephone-PCT'; there were no significant differences between the groups. Satisfaction with care in both groups was high and there was no significant difference between them. These data reflect a high standard of care of patients dying of cancer and other chronic diseases in an acute hospital environment, but do not demonstrate a difference between the two models of service delivery of specialist palliative care.

Author information

Author/s: Hanks, G W (GW); Robbins, M (M); Sharp, D (D); Forbes, K (K); Done, K (K); Peters, T J (TJ); Morgan, H (H); Sykes, J (J); Baxter, K (K); Corfe, F (F); Bidgood, C (C);

Affiliation: Unit of Palliative Medicine, Division of Oncology, University of Bristol, Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre, Horfield Road, Bristol BS2 8ED, UK. Debbie.ashby(-atsign-)bristol.ac.uk

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: British journal of cancer (Br J Cancer), published in Scotland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Sep; vol 87 (issue 7) : pp 733-9

Dates: Created 2002/09/16; Completed 2002/11/07; Revised 2009/09/11;

PMID: 12232756, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/14/2009, IMS Date: )

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