Mapping of key performance indicators for palliative care in intensive care settings: A scoping review protocol

Abstract

Background: Palliative care integration in intensive care units (ICUs) is becoming increasingly important in terms of patient-centred care delivery. While both generalist (primary) palliative care provided at the ICU level and specialist palliative care (SPC) services support delivery, there is limited clarity regarding how such integration and care can be measured. Key performance indicators are generally identified as indicators of the quality of healthcare. However, relevant palliative care key performance indicators for the ICU are poorly defined and vary across policies, regulations, and the literature. Aim: To identify and map key performance indicators to inform a domain-based framework for evaluating palliative care delivery in ICUs. Methods: This study will be conducted as a scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. We will undertake a systematic search of peer-reviewed records, grey literature, national health system sources, regulatory bodies, and professional organisations. Once extracted, we will analyse the key performance indicators and group them into domains reflecting both generalist and specialist palliative care delivery. Conclusions: This will result in a comprehensive synthesis of key performance indicators and a developed structured framework to support the evaluation and implementation of palliative care delivery in the ICU.