Promoting the use of outcome measures across disciplines through action research with practitioners in a palliative care setting

Abstract

Background/Aim Allied health professionals aspire to become evidence-based practitioners but disparity exists between best practice and clinical practice. One example is outcome measurement; despite being committed to using outcome measures, allied health professionals struggle to use them. This study aimed to explore the process of introducing outcome measures into a practice setting. Methods A qualitative action research study was undertaken with allied health professionals working in a hospice setting. The data, collected in three cycles of action, were analysed thematically. Findings Three themes emerged: the gap between knowledge and practice, the challenges of measuring outcomes in palliative care, and facilitators to using outcome measures in palliative care. Action research provided a structure to involve therapists in introducing outcome measures within a practice setting. Conclusions This study provides insight into how a clinical speciality's discrete characteristics influence the process of selecting outcome measures. In a hospice setting, where people have life-shortening conditions, the challenges for using outcome measures are different to other settings. Action research offers a deep learning opportunity and process, through education, discussion, and critique, to support therapists to select and adopt the outcome measures to use in practice.