Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of general practitioners (GPs) (n=305) and district nurses (DNs) (n=101) on the service provided by hospice home-care nurses in an area of Northern Ireland. The study objectives were to assess GPs’ and DNs’ levels of awareness of this service and their referral patterns to the service. Other objectives related to the perceptions of GPs and DNs in terms of the usefulness of the service, the level of communication and collaboration offered within the service and the role of hospice home care nurses. GPs were specifically asked for their views on the value of the service within the current commissioner-provider framework. Semi-structured postal questionnaires were employed to address these objectives. Results showed that perceptions varied between GPs and DNs, and indicated a need to extend the role of hospice home-care nurses, especially in relation to training in counselling and better communication following referral. Collaborative teamwork and education were also identified as areas for further research.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 288-295 |
| Journal | International Journal of Palliative Nursing |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Publication status | Published (in print/issue) - 1999 |