Home-based palliative care support teams in France: A nationwide survey

Context. - Home-based palliative care support teams have been widely developed in France over the course of the last 2 decades. This national survey aimed to describe the characteristics of home-based palliative care support teams, and to investigate their activities (e.g. clinical support, coordination, teaching). Methods. - This study is based on a nationwide survey conducted among all existing home-based palliative care support teams in France between September, 15 and December, 15, 2012. Results. - Among 98 home-based palliative care support teams in France, 78 participated in our survey (response rate = 80%). Coordination staff consisted of 8 professionals on average (4.9 full time equivalents). However, our results show a considerable heterogeneity in the composition of the staff: some home-based palliative care support teams do not include any psychologists(n = 17), social workers (n = 28) or even physicians (n = 10). In 2011, 17,326 patients were followed by a home-based palliative care support team, i.e. 225 patients on average (SD = 133). Cancer remains the most frequent underlying condition. Hospital discharge and symptom management are the two most frequent reasons for referral. Finally, home-based palliative care support teams are involved in various teaching activities, not only toward community-based professionals but also toward nursing home and hospital-based professionals. Conclusion. - Our study highlights considerable variation in the functioning, the staff and the activities of home-based palliative care support teams in France. (C) 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.