Priority Research Topics and Patient and Family Needs in a National Sample of Hospice Agencies

Context. Various contextual factors surrounding hospice care have reinforced the need for scholars to pursue practice-relevant research questions. Although priority-setting is a primary approach to streamline such efforts, research appears yet to have conducted priority-setting with hospice professionals.Objective. To describe the areas of needed research and clinical focus voiced by a national probability sample of US hospice agency representatives.Methods. A national probability sample of 600 hospice agencies proportionately stratified by state and profit status was surveyed. At the end of the survey, participants indicated whether or not they were willing to answer two additional open-ended questions. These two questions requested participants' input on areas of needed attention related to (1) research topics and (2) unmet needs for patients and families. Responses were content analyzed.Results. A total of 317 surveys were completed (response rate = 61.8%). Viable responses were recorded by 129 participants responding to at least one item. Content analysis generated the following five categories (and various subcategories): earlier access to hospice, education (outside physicians, patients and families, public), policy barriers to hospice enrollment (hospice eligibility and reimbursement, gaps in insurance coverage), effects of policy restrictions on hospice care (reimbursement for care, pain management, clinician issues), and improving the provision of in-home hospice care (community resources, supports for caregivers, supports for when caregiver assistance is inadequate, needs already are being met).Conclusion. These findings presented by hospice agency representatives reflect directions for research and clinical development. Efforts are needed to cohere professional- and patient-reported areas of needed attention. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023;65:133-142. (c) 2022 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.