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- Title
The roles, responsibilities and practices of healthcare assistants in out-of-hours community palliative care: A systematic scoping review.
- Authors
Fee, Anne; Muldrew, Deborah; Slater, Paul; Payne, Sheila; McIlfatrick, Sonja; McConnell, Tracey; Finlay, Dori-Anne; Hasson, Felicity
- Abstract
Background: Access to community palliative care 'out-of-hours' – defined as care provided after the normal hours of work – is advocated globally. Healthcare assistants, who provide care under the direction of a qualified professional, are increasingly employed to help deliver such care, yet there is a little understanding regarding their role, responsibilities or contribution. Aim: The aim of this study was to identify the roles, responsibilities and contributions of healthcare assistants in out-of-hours community palliative care. Design: Scoping review Data sources: Five bibliographic databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Scopus) and grey literature were searched using a predefined search strategy. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews statement. Results: The search yielded six papers using quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods. Results highlighted a lack of recognition of the role and contribution of healthcare assistants. A concurrent theme was that healthcare assistants continually monitored and responded to patient's and family's physical and emotional needs; there was also self-reported evidence indicating patient and family benefit, such as maintaining a sense of normality and support to remain at home. Discussion: This review highlighted a dearth of evidence relating to the healthcare assistant role in out-of-hours palliative care. Limited evidence suggests they play a role, but that it is hidden and undervalued. Such invisibility will have a significant impact on the planning and delivery of out-of-hours palliative care. Future research is needed on role development for the benefit of patients and caregivers.
- Subjects
CINAHL database; COMMUNITY health services; HOME care services; MEDICAL information storage &; retrieval systems; PSYCHOLOGY information storage &; retrieval systems; MEDICAL care; MEDICAL needs assessment; MEDICAL personnel; MEDLINE; PALLIATIVE treatment; PATIENT monitoring; PATIENTS; SELF-evaluation; SYSTEMATIC reviews; LITERATURE reviews; OCCUPATIONAL roles; SOCIAL support; PATIENTS' families; UNLICENSED medical personnel
- Publication
Palliative Medicine, 2020, Vol 34, Issue 8, p976
- ISSN
0269-2163
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/0269216320929559