Publication

Barriers to research in palliative care in France

Journal Paper/Review - Apr 19, 2013

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Rhondali W, Berthiller J, Hui D, Yennu S, Lafumas V, Ledoux M, Strasser F, Filbet M. Barriers to research in palliative care in France. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2013
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
BMJ Support Palliat Care 2013
Publication Date
Apr 19, 2013
Issn Electronic
2045-4368
Brief description/objective

PURPOSE
Palliative care (PC) needs expansion of its research capacity to improve the quality of care. This is particularly true for France that contributed less than 2% of all European PC research publications. We conducted a survey to assess the barriers French healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in PC research had to face.

METHODS
We surveyed all 420 PC departments registered in the French National Association for Palliative Care (SFAP) database using a previously used questionnaire. We documented the ethical limitations, time constraints, financial resources, patient issues and methodological issues related to PC research.

RESULTS
We obtained 382 responses. Ninety-two (24.1%) HCPs were involved in a research project during the last 5 years. In univariate results, predictors of being involved in PC research were men (p=0.004), physician (p=0.022), working at a university hospital (p<0.001). There was a trend towards working in a PC unit (p=0.052). The main barriers to participating in PC research were lack of time (80.1%) and patient issues (47.4%). Lack of methodological support (33.0%) and financial limitations (30.4%) were also reported as major barriers.

CONCLUSIONS
There is a consensus that PC research and publication in the English language for peer-reviewed journals must be expanded in France but at this stage, clinical teams still lack specific funding and appropriate support. More research is needed to confirm our results and to determine the best ways to develop PC research capacity in France.