Background Palliative care can improve outcomes for patients with advanced chronic heart failure and their families, but timely recognition of palliative care needs remains challenging. Aim The aim of this study was to identify characteristics of a tool to assess palliative care needs in chronic heart failure that are needed for successful implementation, according to patients, their family and healthcare professionals in The Netherlands. Methods Explorative qualitative study, part of the project ‘Identification of patients with HeARt failure with PC needs’ (I-HARP), focus groups and individual interviews were held with healthcare professionals, patients with chronic heart failure, and family members. Data were analysed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Results A total of 13 patients, 10 family members and 26 healthcare professionals participated. Direct-content analysis revealed desired tool characteristics for successful implementation in four constructs: relative advantage, adaptability, complexity, and design quality and packaging. Healthcare professionals indicated that a tool should increase awareness, understanding and knowledge concerning palliative care needs. A tool needs to: be adaptable to different disease stages, facilitate early identification of palliative care needs and ease open conversations about palliative care. The complexity of chronic heart failure should be considered in a personalized approach. Conclusions The current study revealed the characteristics of a tool for timely identification of palliative care needs in chronic heart failure needed for successful implementation. The next steps will be to define the content of the tool, followed by development of a preliminary version and iterative testing of this version by the different stakeholders.

中文翻译：

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及时识别心力衰竭姑息治疗需求的工具的特征：荷兰患者、他们的家人和医疗保健专业人员的观点

背景 姑息治疗可以改善晚期慢性心力衰竭患者及其家属的预后，但及时识别姑息治疗需求仍然具有挑战性。目的 根据荷兰患者、他们的家人和医疗保健专业人员的说法，本研究的目的是确定一种工具的特征，以评估成功实施所需的慢性心力衰竭姑息治疗需求。方法 探索性定性研究是项目“识别有 PC 需求的心脏衰竭患者” (I-HARP) 项目的一部分，与医疗保健专业人员、慢性心力衰竭患者和家庭成员进行了焦点小组和个人访谈。使用实施研究综合框架分析数据。结果共13例，10名家庭成员和26名医疗保健专业人员参加。直接内容分析揭示了在四种结构中成功实施所需的工具特性：相对优势、适应性、复杂性以及设计质量和包装。医疗保健专业人员表示，一种工具应提高对姑息治疗需求的认识、理解和知识。一个工具需要：适应不同的疾病阶段，促进姑息治疗需求的早期识别，并简化关于姑息治疗的公开对话。应在个性化方法中考虑慢性心力衰竭的复杂性。结论 目前的研究揭示了一种工具的特点，该工具可及时识别慢性心力衰竭患者的姑息治疗需求，这是成功实施所需的。