Universität zu Köln

Meesters, Sophie ORCID: 0000-0002-6174-6573, Kaur, Sukhvir ORCID: 0009-0001-6252-6193, Milke, Viola, Herrmann, Christin ORCID: 0000-0003-1986-7512, Schieferdecker, Aneta, Oubaid, Nikolas, Oechsle, Karin, Schulz, Holger, Pfaff, Holger ORCID: 0000-0001-9154-6575, Voltz, Raymond ORCID: 0000-0002-4761-3395 and Kremeike, Kerstin ORCID: 0000-0003-4316-2379 (2025). Formative evaluation of an employee-driven approach to improve care in the dying phase in hospitals. Palliative and Supportive Care, 23. pp. 1-8. Cambridge University Press. ISSN 1478-9515

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Abstract

[Artikel-Nr. e135] Objectives: The hospital setting is often perceived as slow to change. While employee-driven approaches offer a promising alternative to traditional top-down methods, guidance is limited. This study provides a description and formative evaluation of an employee-driven working group (WG) approach to tailor ward-specific measures to improve care in the dying phase. The aim is to evaluate the WG process and offer practical insights for transferability to other hospitals. Methods: Formative mixed-methods evaluation of a WG process to tailor ward-specific evidence-informed measures on 10 wards outside specialized palliative care at 2 German medical centers. To analyze factors relevant for the WG process, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research 2.0 was applied. Data included baseline evaluation (medical record analysis, staff survey and focus groups, informal caregiver interviews), WG protocols, and an online survey with WG participants. Results: Multiprofessional WGs were established on all hospital wards, with an average of 7 meetings per ward within 1 year and 4 participants per meeting. Adapting the process to participants’ wishes and needs were crucial, particularly regarding the desired degree of external input. We identified 4 barriers (e.g. declining participation, institutional limits) and 7 facilitators (e.g. involvement of staff in leading positions, multiprofessional composition). The WGs tailored 34 measures, e.g. team meetings to improve communication within the team. Participants’ views were generally positive: 91% felt able to share their thoughts, 66% were satisfied with the outcome, and 77% would participate again. Significance of results: The employee-driven approach was feasible and useful for tailoring ward-specific measures. However, integrating top-down elements proved to be beneficial. The identified barriers and facilitators provide insights for transferring an employee-driven approach to other hospitals to improve care in the dying phase outside specialized palliative care settings. Clinical trial registration: The study was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00025405).

Item Type:	Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Meesters, Sophie UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6174-6573 UNSPECIFIED Kaur, Sukhvir UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6252-6193 UNSPECIFIED Milke, Viola UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Herrmann, Christin UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1986-7512 UNSPECIFIED Schieferdecker, Aneta UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Oubaid, Nikolas UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Oechsle, Karin UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schulz, Holger UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Pfaff, Holger UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9154-6575 UNSPECIFIED Voltz, Raymond UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4761-3395 UNSPECIFIED Kremeike, Kerstin UNSPECIFIED https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4316-2379 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-799297
Identification Number:	10.1017/S1478951525100400
Journal or Publication Title:	Palliative and Supportive Care
Volume:	23
Page Range:	pp. 1-8
Date:	18 July 2025
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
ISSN:	1478-9515
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Medizinsoziologie, Versorgungsforschung und Rehabilitationswissenschaft > Institut für Medizinsoziologie, Versorgungsforschung und Rehabilitationswissenschaft (IMVR) Faculty of Medicine > Palliativmedizin > Zentrum für Palliativmedizin Faculty of Medicine > Weitere > Centrum für integrierte Onkologie (CIO) Faculty of Medicine > Weitere > Zentrum für Versorgungsforschung Köln
Subjects:	Medical sciences Medicine
['eprint_fieldname_oa_funders' not defined]:	Publikationsfonds UzK
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79929