Qualitative methodology for a palliative care resources and services questionnaire validation

Abstract

Objective: To establish the composition, content and criteria validity of a questionnaire of resources for services provision in Palliative Care (PC) through a qualitative methodology using focus groups with PC professionals. This is a part of a validation and evaluation research project for the provision of services (CP) in the Community of Madrid (CM).
Methods: We performed a qualitative approach to the resource questionnaire validation. It was selected the focus group technique based on the personal experience of the professionals involved in PC. The groups were made up of physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and pastoral agent.
Results: Discussion items in the groups were: human resources, geographical dispersion, work and personal motivation, “psycho-emotional” help for professionals, comprehensive and holistic patient approach, equipment equity, social budget, caregiver support , support between teams, overburden and human relationship with CEOs, future of teams: “be burned”, team-working, teaching in PC, PC nursing work, PC welcome protocol and terminological and conceptual clarifications.
Conclusions: This study tries to be the starting point for the development questionnaire. It will be useful to assess the human and technical resources of our palliative health care network.