A Cochrane review on the effects of end-of-life care pathways: Do they improve patient outcomes?

Chan, Raymond and Webster, Joan (2011) A Cochrane review on the effects of end-of-life care pathways: Do they improve patient outcomes?. The Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing, 12 2: 26-30.

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Author Chan, Raymond
Webster, Joan
Title A Cochrane review on the effects of end-of-life care pathways: Do they improve patient outcomes?
Journal name The Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2011-12
Sub-type Article
Volume number 12
Issue number 2
ISSN 1441-2551
Start page 26
End page 30
Total pages 5
Place of publication Sydney, Australia
Publisher Cambridge Media
Collection year 2012
Language eng
Formatted abstract Clinical pathways for end-of-life care management are used widely around the world and have been regarded as the gold standard. The aim of this review was to assess the effects of end-of-life care pathways (EOLCP), compared with usual care (no pathway) or with care guided by a different end-of-life care pathway, across all health care settings (for example, hospitals, residential aged care facilities, community). We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Pain, Palliative and Supportive Care Review Group Specialised Register, MEDLINE, EMBASE, review articles and reference lists of relevant articles.

The search was carried out in September 2009. All randomised controlled trials (RCTs), quasi-randomised trials or high-quality, controlled, before and after studies comparing use versus non-use of an EOLCP in caring for the dying were considered for inclusion. The search identified 920 potentially relevant titles, but no studies met criteria for inclusion in the review. Without further available evidence, recommendations for the use of EOLCP for the dying cannot be made. There are now recent concerns regarding the big-scale roll-out of EOLCP despite the lack of evidence; nurses should report any safety concerns or adverse effects associated with such pathways.
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Official 2012 Collection
School of Nursing and Midwifery Publications
 
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Created: Wed, 01 Feb 2012, 15:06:37 EST by Vicki Percival on behalf of School of Nursing and Midwifery