Background Views on Care is one measure of the Outcome Assessment and Complexity Collaboration (OACC) suite of measures. Views on Care focuses specifically on the patient’s quality of life and their views on the impact of the service on their main problems and wellbeing. Outcome measures in specialist palliative care are important in evaluating the quality of care provided. As part of the introduction of all OACC measures, Views on Care was piloted on our 15-bed inpatient unit. To date, as Views on Care is a new measure, there are no data yet on the validity and reliability.

Aim To review how Views on Care is presented to our patients to ease completion

Methods In the introductory pilot of Views on Care two members of the medical team (authors) identified all patients receiving care during February 2016 who were assessed as being able to self-complete the Views on Care questionnaire. Feedback was gathered at the time and when collated both authors noted some patients had difficulty with the format. Because of the pilot experience we plan to bring the questionnaire to a focus group of people with personal experience to more formally review the use of the tool and, if necessary, look at ways to improve on our use of this measure. Results to date: 18 questionnaires completed 72% of patients reported feeling a little better or much better 89% of patients reported the Hospice was giving a lot of benefit. Example of Patient Comments: ‘I cannot recall life before the Hospice’; ‘I don’t know which box to tick’.

Why is this important?

1. Majority of palliative care services are using or in the process of introducing OACC measures

2. Less is understood about the practicalities of the Views on Care tool.