The Impact of a Novel Tool for Comprehensive Assessment of Palliative Care (MPCAT) on Assessment Outcome at 6- and 12-Month Follow-Up

Abstract Context Assessment in palliative care settings should be focused, sensitive, specific and effective in order to minimize discomfort to vulnerable and often highly morbid patients. This report describes the development of an admission assessment protocol for a Specialist Palliative Care Inpatient Unit (SPCU) and its implementation into clinical practice. Objectives To develop and investigate the impact of the implementation of a Specialist Palliative Care admission assessment tool on documentation of key patient needs. Methods The outcome of a systematic literature review was used to develop an admission assessment protocol (the intervention) in a SPCU. Mixed methods were utilized to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation pre and post intervention to test the effectiveness, feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. Results The documented evidence of pain assessment improved from a baseline rate of 71% to 100% post intervention. This improvement was maintained 12 months post introduction of the tool ( P