Development of a Standard for Hospital-Based Palliative Care Consultation Teams in Japan Using a Modified Delphi Method

Abstract

ContextHospital-based palliative care consultation teams (PCCTs) are rapidly being disseminated throughout Japan. The roles of PCCTs have changed during the past decade, particularly with the introduction of a modified national cancer care act to promote early palliative care and integrated oncology and palliative care. ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop a consultation team standard for hospital-based palliative care in Japan. MethodsWe developed a provisional standard based on literature review and used a modified questionnaire-based Delphi method. Our Delphi panel comprises 20 experts selected from all relevant disciplines. ResultsAll experts selected responded to the surveys over all rounds, and 14 of the 20 participated in the panel meeting. In the first round, 79 of 109 statements were judged to be appropriate, and 30 of 109 statements led to disagreements. About 16 of those 30 statements underwent minor revision, 1 was divided into two statements, and 13 remained unchanged. We then added six statements based on a discussion among participants and authors. In addition, based on comments from an external reviewer, we revised the standard, resulting in four statements being combined into two for a new total of 114 statements. In the second round, 108 of 114 statements were judged to be appropriate, and in the third round, none of the six controversial statements were judged to be appropriate. The final version comprises 108 statements. ConclusionWe developed a standard for PCCTs in Japanese cancer hospitals. This standard provides a useful guide for clinical activities and a tool to evaluate quality of palliative care.