Date of Last Revision
2023-05-02 23:40:46
Major
Nursing
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Date of Expected Graduation
Spring 2017
Abstract
Many older adults nearing death experience unnecessarily invasive and costly healthcare treatments, often causing more harm than good. Hospice and palliative care interventions offer a possible solution to this problem by prioritizing high-quality and cost-effective care with a strong focus on comfort and satisfaction. The authors of this paper seek to answer the following question: Do hospice and palliative care interventions directed toward older adults at the end of life improve quality of life, cost of care, and satisfaction? This paper thoroughly reviews and critically appraises existing research related to the effect of hospice and palliative care directed toward older adults at the end of life. Twenty primary studies published between 2011 and 2016 were identified, reviewed, and critically evaluated in an effort to answer this question. The publications were diverse in objective, scope, and design, but all contributed to the conversation regarding this potential solution to substandard care for older adults at the end of life. Based on the existing evidence, the authors came to the following conclusion: hospice and palliative care interventions are associated with improved quality of life in five out of six measured areas, decreased cost of care, and high satisfaction for care recipients and providers alike. Ten recommendations for clinical practice and five recommendations for future research are discussed.
Research Sponsor
Carrie Wissmar
First Reader
Lisa Hart
Second Reader
Diane Lorenzen
Recommended Citation
Brown, Justin M.; Havener, David J.; and Byrne, Jeffrey T., "A Systematic Review - The Effect of Hospice and Palliative Care" (2017). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 468.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/468