Article type
Abstract
Background: In order to enhance quality of care, developing guidelines is an essential step in translating available evidence into clinical practice. However, merely creating the guideline is insufficient to create a significant impact for patients.
Objective: Promoting awareness and implementation of palliative care (PC) guidelines by using various strategies aimed at patients and healthcare providers.
Methods: All strategies aimed to improve access to and understanding of PC guidelines for both patients and healthcare providers. Upon new guideline publication, a news article was distributed across various online platforms, including social media and relevant PC websites. A patient-friendly version is also published on overpalliatievezorg.nl (website about PC for patients and caregivers) to increase patient direction and ensure that collaborative decision-making is possible because healthcare provider and patient have the same information. Primarily focused on aiding healthcare providers in decision-making while ensuring accessibility, initiatives included development of summary cards, the PalliArts app (incorporating guidelines, summaries, medication overviews), and decision trees from applicable guidelines on Palliaguide. In addition to guidelines, Palliaweb.nl hosted theme pages for each subject, compiling relevant information and resources, including case-based training. Furthermore, healthcare providers involved in development of guidelines were encouraged to share knowledge through presentations and scientific publications. Page visits and downloads in 2023 were determined.
Results: In 2023, mentioned tools and platforms showed active engagement. Summary cards were frequently ordered (30,180), indicating their perceived usefulness. Theme pages attracted substantial traffic (45,734), suggesting interest in accessing comprehensive information. Eight decision trees on Palliaguide were viewed (9,752). Training cases were downloaded frequently (1,256), indicating interest in applying guidelines in clinical settings. PalliArts registered a total of 75,210 users. The website overpalliatievezorg.nl served as a valuable resource for patients and their families, offering easily comprehensible and up-to-date information (99,339). Notably, healthcare providers also used this patient-oriented website, highlighting its dual relevance in supporting both patients and professionals in PC settings.
Conclusions:
The initiatives and actions contributed to increasing awareness and implementation of PC guidelines and benefited both patients and healthcare providers, emphasizing the importance of accessible information in PC settings. Improved implementation of guidelines is expected to improve PC for patients.
Objective: Promoting awareness and implementation of palliative care (PC) guidelines by using various strategies aimed at patients and healthcare providers.
Methods: All strategies aimed to improve access to and understanding of PC guidelines for both patients and healthcare providers. Upon new guideline publication, a news article was distributed across various online platforms, including social media and relevant PC websites. A patient-friendly version is also published on overpalliatievezorg.nl (website about PC for patients and caregivers) to increase patient direction and ensure that collaborative decision-making is possible because healthcare provider and patient have the same information. Primarily focused on aiding healthcare providers in decision-making while ensuring accessibility, initiatives included development of summary cards, the PalliArts app (incorporating guidelines, summaries, medication overviews), and decision trees from applicable guidelines on Palliaguide. In addition to guidelines, Palliaweb.nl hosted theme pages for each subject, compiling relevant information and resources, including case-based training. Furthermore, healthcare providers involved in development of guidelines were encouraged to share knowledge through presentations and scientific publications. Page visits and downloads in 2023 were determined.
Results: In 2023, mentioned tools and platforms showed active engagement. Summary cards were frequently ordered (30,180), indicating their perceived usefulness. Theme pages attracted substantial traffic (45,734), suggesting interest in accessing comprehensive information. Eight decision trees on Palliaguide were viewed (9,752). Training cases were downloaded frequently (1,256), indicating interest in applying guidelines in clinical settings. PalliArts registered a total of 75,210 users. The website overpalliatievezorg.nl served as a valuable resource for patients and their families, offering easily comprehensible and up-to-date information (99,339). Notably, healthcare providers also used this patient-oriented website, highlighting its dual relevance in supporting both patients and professionals in PC settings.
Conclusions:
The initiatives and actions contributed to increasing awareness and implementation of PC guidelines and benefited both patients and healthcare providers, emphasizing the importance of accessible information in PC settings. Improved implementation of guidelines is expected to improve PC for patients.