Enhancing palliative care in rural aged care: the impact of an evidence-based assessment toolkit

Palliative care in rural aged care facilities is often hindered by late referrals, inadequate staff training, and a lack of standardised protocols, leading to suboptimal end-of-life care. The development and implementation of the Palliative Care Assessment Toolkit (PCAT) aimed to improve palliative care delivery in rural settings. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study underpinning PCAT was conducted in three phases: baseline assessment, toolkit development and implementation, and post-intervention evaluation. Findings revealed significant improvements in key areas, including the commencement of end-of-life care planning (54% to 88%, p = 0.03), medication availability (55% to 100%, p = 0.0016), and provision of psychological (59% to 82%) and spiritual support (14% to 44%, p = 0.05). Staff reported increased confidence in palliative care delivery. These results highlight the effectiveness of structured, evidence-based interventions in enhancing palliative care outcomes in rural aged care facilities. Further research is needed to assess long-term sustainability and broader applicability of the PCAT model.

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About the presenter

Professor Hanan Khalil

Professor Hanan Khalil is a registered pharmacist, currently serving as the Associate Dean of Academic Partnerships at the School of Psychology and Public Health at La Trobe University, Melbourne. She has extensive experience in clinical practice, research, and education, working across hospitals, community settings, and academic institutions. Professor Khalil has published over 250 research and educational articles and has been ranked among the top 2% of researchers globally by Stanford University. Beyond academia, she has contributed to national policy and regulatory frameworks, serving on the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Labelling of Medicines Committee to enhance medication safety. She is also an advisory member for the Monthly Index of Medical Specialties (MIMS). And is the co-Editor-in-Chief of Current Opinion in Epidemiology and Public Health journal.