Advertisement!
Author Information Pack
Editorial Board
Submit article
Special Issue
Editor's selection process
Join as Reviewer/Editor
List of Reviewer
Indexing Information
Most popular articles
Purchase Single Articles
Archive
Free Online Access
Current Issue
Recommend this journal to your library
Advertiser
Accepted Articles
Search Articles
Email Alerts
FAQ
Contact Us
Indian Journal of Cancer Education and Research

Volume  3, Issue 2, Jul-Dec 2015, Pages 55-59
 

Review Article

Delphi Process and Evidence-Informed Palliative Care: Making ends Meet

Nisha Rani Jamwal*, Senthil P. Kumar**

*Senior Physiotherapist, Department of Physiotherapy, Fortis Super Speciality hospital, Phase-VIII, Mohali, Punjab **Professor & Principal, Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation (Maharishi Markandeshwar University), Mu

Choose an option to locate / access this Article:
90 days Access
Check if you have access through your login credentials.        PDF      |
|

Open Access: View PDF

DOI: DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijcer.2321.9815.3215.2

Abstract
Evidence-informed palliative care (EIPC) denotes thoughtful integration of recent scientific evidence with patient/caregiver preferences to individualize care plan and process for terminally ill patients and their families. The proponents of EIPC claim that practice decisions and communication should be evidence-based or evidence-informed, whereas evidence for most palliative and end-of-life care is insufficient and/or inconclusive. The demand to establish evidence, together with limitations in conducting clinical trials on palliative care patient population had necessitated the introduction of Delphi process as a means of evidence. The Delphi process utilizes expert opinion for conflicting decisions, arrive at a consensus and establish levels of evidence for various care recommendations. Herewith this review article highlighted the role of Delphi process and Delphi studies in providing scientific information which bridges the evidence-to-practice gap in EIPC. We grouped identified studies qualitatively under palliative care practice, education, research and administration. There is scope for future research to develop better treatment guidelines for palliative care utilizing the Delphi approach. 

Keywords: Evidence-Informed Palliative Care; Practice-Based Evidence; Expert Panel Guidelines. 


Corresponding Author : Senthil P. Kumar**