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Mapping palliative and end of care research in Australia (2000–2018)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2020

H. Khalil Open the ORCID record for H. Khalil [Opens in a new window] ,
A. Downie  and
E. Ristevski
H. Khalil*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology and Public Health, Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC3000, Australia
A. Downie
Affiliation:
Monash University, Monash Rural Health, Warragul, VIC3825, Australia
E. Ristevski
Affiliation:
Monash University, Monash Rural Health, Warragul, VIC3825, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Hanan Khalil, Associate Professor, School of Psychology and Public Health, Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC3000, Australia. E-mail: h.khalil@latrobe.edu.au
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Abstract

Objective

The objective of this study is to map the existent research undertaken in Australia into broad thematic areas and identify the characteristics of the studies and areas of future research in the literature.

Methods

A scoping review methodology was employed to map the current areas of research undertaken in Australia since January 2000 until the end of December 2018 according to years of publications, types of studies, populations studied, research themes, and areas of focus.

Results

Our review identified 1,405 Australian palliative care research publications between January 2000 and December 2018. Nearly 40% of the studies were quantitative (39%) and a third were qualitative studies (31%). The remainder of the studies were reviews, mixed methods, quality improvement projects, and others. One-third (30%) of the research was done with carers' participants followed by nurses (22%) and doctors and physicians (18%). The most frequently reported diagnosis in the studies was cancer with 42% of the publication total. The most frequently explored theme was physical symptoms (such as pain, breathlessness, nausea, delirium, and dyspnea) with a total of 16% of all articles followed by communication (15%). There was a large gap to the next most frequently explored theme with service delivery (9%) and coordination of care (8%). Assessment of patients (7%), end-of-life decision-making (6%), and rural/regional (6%) all produced a similar number of publications. Very few studies addressed topics such as quality of life, E-Health, after-hours care, spirituality, and health economics. Moreover, there were only 15 (1%) studies focused on the last days of life.

Significance of the results

The current review presented a comprehensive search of the literature across almost two decades in Australia in the palliative care setting. It has covered a breadth of research topics and highlighted urgent areas for further research.

Keywords

End of lifePalliative careScoping review
Type
Review Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , December 2020 , pp. 713 - 721
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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