Here is the structured PICO analysis for the twenty-second article you uploaded:


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Full Title (verbatim and exact):

“Timely short-term specialized palliative care service intervention for older people with frailty and their family carers in primary care: Development and modelling of the frailty+ intervention using theory of change”

De Nooijer K, Pivodic L, Van Den Noortgate N, et al.

Palliative Medicine (2021); 35(10): 1961–1974

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163211040187


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Type of Article:

Development and modelling study of a complex intervention (pre-trial phase)


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PICO Analysis:

Population:

  • Older people (aged ≥70 years) with frailty and complex needs living at home
  • Inclusion criteria included:
    • Clinical Frailty Scale score of 5–7
    • At least one unresolved or complex issue in one of four palliative care domains (physical, psychosocial, spiritual, existential)
    • Recent hospitalisation and planned discharge to home
  • Also included family carers of these individuals
  • Targeted care within primary care settings in Flanders, Belgium

Intervention:

The Frailty+ intervention—a timely, short-term, specialised palliative care service, comprising:

Core Component:

  • 1–4 home visits over 8 weeks by a specialised palliative care nurse
  • Multidisciplinary team meetings for collaborative planning
  • Goal-oriented, holistic, and proactive care
  • Person-centred and family-inclusive approach
  • Integration with GP and community care teams
  • Advance care planning and emergency response plans included

Implementation Components:

  • Stakeholder engagement (GPs, geriatricians, nurses)
  • Regional awareness and buy-in
  • Staff training and interprofessional collaboration development
  • Screening and referral system using standardised criteria 

Comparator:

  • No comparator group—this was a developmental study
  • A pilot RCT was planned subsequently (Trial registration: ISRCTN39282347)

Outcome:

1. Person-centred outcomes:

  • Expected (not yet measured in this paper):
    • Increased sense of security in care (reported by patients and carers)
    • Improved wellbeing
    • Fewer unmet needs and symptoms
    • Longer stay at home
    • Enhanced continuity of care
    • Reduced hospitalisations 

2. Process outcomes:

  • Identification of key preconditions for success:
    • Timely patient identification
    • GP referral and legal consent
    • Buy-in from community and hospital staff
  • Indicators and measures were to be tested in follow-up feasibility work 

3. Health system outcomes:

  • Hypothesised effects:
    • Increased integration of palliative care into community-based care
    • Greater job satisfaction among healthcare providers
  • Assumptions for scalability:
    • Free access to palliative home care
    • 24/7 availability
    • Coordination within regional healthcare structures

Summary Conclusion:

This article presents the Frailty+ intervention—a structured, short-term, nurse-led palliative care model designed for older adults with frailty and their carers in primary care. Using a participatory Theory of Change approach, the study detailed the intervention logic, components, and stakeholder requirements. While not yet tested for clinical outcomes, the design integrates palliative, geriatric, and goal-oriented care in a collaborative model aiming to improve holistic wellbeing, security in care, and health system integration. A pilot trial is underway to assess feasibility, fidelity, and preliminary effectiveness.


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