Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41680754›Full record

SynthesisBMC palliative care2026

Implementing patient-centred outcome measures in palliative care clinical practice. An updated systematic review of facilitators and barriers.

Bárbara Antunes, Stephen Barclay, Isla Kuhn, Kathy Eagar, Claudia Bausewein, Fliss Murtagh, Simon Etkind, Ben Bowers, Sarah Dixon, Roberta Lovick and 3 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC palliative care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Bárbara AntunesPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Primary Care Unit, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK. bc521@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
Stephen BarclayPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Primary Care Unit, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Isla KuhnMedical Library, School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Kathy EagarQueensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane City , QLD 4000, Australia.
Claudia BauseweinDepartment of Palliative Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich University Hospital, Campus Großhadern | Marchioninistr, 15, Munich, 81377, Germany.
Fliss MurtaghWolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, University of Hull, Allam Medical Building, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK.
Simon EtkindPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Primary Care Unit, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Ben BowersPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Primary Care Unit, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Sarah DixonPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Primary Care Unit, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Roberta LovickPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Primary Care Unit, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.
Richard HardingDepartment of Palliative Care and Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Rd, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
Irene HigginsonDepartment of Palliative Care and Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, Bessemer Rd, London, SE5 9RS, UK.
Farhad ShokranehPalliative and End of Life Care Group in Cambridge (PELiCam), Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Primary Care Unit, The University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK.

Funding

Marie Curie UK Grant reference MC-21-809
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPatient-centred outcome measures (PCOMs), when well implemented, are powerful tools facilitating patient, family and clinical communication to better respond to patient needs. Their routine use in palliative care practice still faces challenges.

objectiveTo update a systematic review of PCOMs implementation, reviewing and synthesising new evidence on facilitators, barriers, lessons learned, measures used, models of implementation, costs, implementation outcomes, and consequences in clinical practice.

methodsWe searched eight information sources supplemented by hand-searching and citations of the original review and studies identified by the expert advisory committee. This prospectively registered review included studies using a PCOM during clinical care of adult patients with advanced disease in all settings and extracted data on: PCOMs used, models of implementation, facilitators, barriers, lessons learned, costs, and implementation outcomes. We employed narrative synthesis and tabulated findings, following all PRISMA reporting guidelines.

resultsWe included 114 studies. A major new facilitator was the integration of electronic/digital PCOMs into Information Technology systems. Main barriers remain largely unchanged and relate to healthcare professionals' beliefs. Implementation was highlighted as a complex intervention, needing planning, assessment and fine tuning throughout. Sixty-two included studies mentioned at least one implementation outcome. Eighteen models, frameworks and theories were identified in 25 included studies. No studies reported on costs of implementation.

conclusionThis work reveals the complexity of implementing PCOMs in palliative care practice. The main clinical and research implications of our findings highlight the central importance of staff engagement and training staff in PCOM tools, communication strategies, and cultural competence.

Indexed as

Palliative CarePatient Outcome AssessmentHumansPatient-Centered CareBarriersComplex interventionsFacilitatorsImplementationPalliative carePatient-centred outcome measurementPatient-reported outcome measurementSystematic reviews

Identifiers

PMID41680754
PMCPMC12997956

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.