Swedish Palliative Care Guide (S-PCG) at Nursing Homes

Launched by REGION SKANE · May 27, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study tests how well a Swedish palliative care tool called the Swedish Palliative Care Guide (S-PCG) part 2 works in nursing homes for residents, especially those with dementia or cognitive impairment, and their families. It’s an observational effort that compares nursing homes using the guide right away (active group) with homes that start using it later (control group). The researchers will look at whether using the guide helps patients and their families feel more informed about the patient’s situation and feel more secure about future care, and whether important conversations about goals of care and any limits on treatment are recorded in the medical records. Data are collected through surveys of patients, family members, and health care staff, plus review of care records, over an average follow-up of about two years.

Who can participate and what to expect: The study will involve adults aged 65 and older who live in participating nursing homes in Sweden (Region Skåne area), their relatives, and the nursing home staff. To join, a resident must be in a participating home and able to consent; if they cannot due to dementia or similar issues, a relative may consent on their behalf. Residents who are dying or too ill to participate are excluded. If you’re invited, you or a relative may complete short surveys (on a 1–5 rating scale) about experiences of care, and staff may be asked to participate in questionnaires and optional focus groups. The study is about improving care—not testing drugs or devices—and results will help understand whether starting the S-PCG earlier improves experience and communication for patients, families, and care teams. Enrollment began in 2024 and is expected to continue through 2028, with results not yet available.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • - Living at one of the nursing homes that participates in the study and consents to the study or that next of kin consents (in case of excessively impaired cognition).
• Exclusion criteria:
• • That the person is dying or too ill to be asked about participation.
• • That the person is not capable of giving their informed consent (e.g. due to their dementia) and missing relatives.