Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview study

Background: Demand for palliative care is rising. Recent UK policy approaches promote integrated care models — collaborations between GPs and multidisciplinary specialists — and remote and digital practices. The extent to which different forms of continuity are supported within this evolving contex...

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Main Authors: Emma Ladds, Malaika Ivey, Katrina Gadsby, Elin Preest, Ffion Samuels, Victoria Bradley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Royal College of General Practitioners 2025-04-01
Series:BJGP Open
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Online Access:https://bjgpopen.org/content/9/1/BJGPO.2024.0126
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author Emma Ladds
Malaika Ivey
Katrina Gadsby
Elin Preest
Ffion Samuels
Victoria Bradley
author_facet Emma Ladds
Malaika Ivey
Katrina Gadsby
Elin Preest
Ffion Samuels
Victoria Bradley
author_sort Emma Ladds
collection DOAJ
description Background: Demand for palliative care is rising. Recent UK policy approaches promote integrated care models — collaborations between GPs and multidisciplinary specialists — and remote and digital practices. The extent to which different forms of continuity are supported within this evolving context is currently unclear. Aim: To explore the experience of continuity and impact of remote and digital practices within an integrated palliative care model. Design & setting: A qualitative interview study of patients and bereaved relatives recruited from a GP practice list and healthcare professionals delivering the integrated palliative care service for that population. Method: Twenty narrative and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 patients, relatives, and professionals between May 2022 and November 2023. They explored how care was delivered or received, focusing on coherency and the use of remote and digital practices. Data were theorised using a novel framework that considered psychodynamic, biomedical, sociotechnical, and sociopolitical domains of continuity. Results: The need for human care and connection were of primary importance and affected by intersubjective, biomedical, sociotechnical, and sociopolitical factors that influenced continuity of care. Despite the logistical ease of remote and digital practices, professionals had to work harder or around technologies to provide a ‘caring’ service. This was exacerbated by a lack of co-localisation, loss of longitudinal relationships, and reduction in tacit knowledge. Conclusion: Numerous complex factors and the exacerbating effects of remote and digital practices influence continuity and coherency within an integrated palliative care model.
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spelling doaj-art-dd92d4e8719a436baaf9ee83445dc5012025-08-20T03:53:38ZengRoyal College of General PractitionersBJGP Open2398-37952025-04-019110.3399/BJGPO.2024.0126Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview studyEmma Ladds0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9864-7408Malaika Ivey1Katrina Gadsby2Elin Preest3Ffion Samuels4Victoria Bradley5Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKUniversity of Oxford Clinical Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UKUniversity of Oxford Clinical Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UKUniversity of Oxford Clinical Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UKUniversity of Oxford Clinical Medical School, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UKOxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UKBackground: Demand for palliative care is rising. Recent UK policy approaches promote integrated care models — collaborations between GPs and multidisciplinary specialists — and remote and digital practices. The extent to which different forms of continuity are supported within this evolving context is currently unclear. Aim: To explore the experience of continuity and impact of remote and digital practices within an integrated palliative care model. Design & setting: A qualitative interview study of patients and bereaved relatives recruited from a GP practice list and healthcare professionals delivering the integrated palliative care service for that population. Method: Twenty narrative and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 patients, relatives, and professionals between May 2022 and November 2023. They explored how care was delivered or received, focusing on coherency and the use of remote and digital practices. Data were theorised using a novel framework that considered psychodynamic, biomedical, sociotechnical, and sociopolitical domains of continuity. Results: The need for human care and connection were of primary importance and affected by intersubjective, biomedical, sociotechnical, and sociopolitical factors that influenced continuity of care. Despite the logistical ease of remote and digital practices, professionals had to work harder or around technologies to provide a ‘caring’ service. This was exacerbated by a lack of co-localisation, loss of longitudinal relationships, and reduction in tacit knowledge. Conclusion: Numerous complex factors and the exacerbating effects of remote and digital practices influence continuity and coherency within an integrated palliative care model.https://bjgpopen.org/content/9/1/BJGPO.2024.0126terminal illness and palliative careintegrated careremote consultationdigital healthqualitative research
spellingShingle Emma Ladds
Malaika Ivey
Katrina Gadsby
Elin Preest
Ffion Samuels
Victoria Bradley
Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview study
BJGP Open
terminal illness and palliative care
integrated care
remote consultation
digital health
qualitative research
title Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview study
title_full Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview study
title_fullStr Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview study
title_full_unstemmed Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview study
title_short Continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care: a qualitative interview study
title_sort continuity within a community integrated palliative care model and the influence of remote and digital approaches to care a qualitative interview study
topic terminal illness and palliative care
integrated care
remote consultation
digital health
qualitative research
url https://bjgpopen.org/content/9/1/BJGPO.2024.0126
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