Is the Palliative Care Outcome Scale useful to staff in a day hospice unit?

Aim This study was undertaken to elicit a day hospice team's experience of using the Palliative Care Outcome Scale (POS), with the intention of determining its usefulness to staff. An adapted version of POS was used for the purpose of the study. Sample A multiprofessional team of eight day hospice staff took part in the study. All had used POS on a weekly basis for a minimum period of 3 months. Design A focus group was conducted at the hospice. It was tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were analysed using an interpretive phenomenological approach. Results Staff felt POS had limited value as an outcome measure for use in this day hospice. Other simultaneous organizational changes at the hospice may also have influenced staff negatively. Further research is needed to explore similar implementation issues in more depth, as practice developments may be abandoned for potentially the wrong reasons.