Background The Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS) is intended to provide a multidimensional view on patients’ situation. IPOS can thus be used with the purpose of assessing patients’ perceptions of their functional status and wellbeing. However, few studies have undertaken the patients’ perspective when exploring experiences of using IPOS.
Aim To explore patients’ experiences of using the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale during specialized palliative home care.
Methods The study had a qualitative approach and to be included patients should have used IPOS twice in a setting where IPOS was recently implemented. The patients were recruited from three different specialized palliative home care settings. Interviews were performed with 10 patients, 7 men and 3 women with a mean age of 72 years. A majority of the patients were diagnosed with incurable cancer. Data were analysed using interpretive description as it is described by Sally Thorne.
Results The patients experienced that using IPOS enabled opportunities for them to reflect upon their wellbeing and life situation. Doing so with a nurse present was enriching as this could provide new perspectives. They also expressed that IPOS facilitated discussions between them and the nurse about matters of importance. The patients believed that the use of IPOS entailed secure care as it facilitated for nurses to make correct assessments of patient care needs. Thus, IPOS helped to plan the care according to their specific needs. This made them feel confident that the care provided was adapted to them, giving a sense of security. They also believed that using IPOS secured that information was passed on correctly from the patients to the health care professionals by eliminating misinterpretations.
Conclusion The result indicates that the patients in the study experienced that using IPOS was beneficial to them. It can be concluded that IPOS with advantage could be used in specialized palliative home care.

Patients Benefit from Using the Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale During Specialized Palliative Home Care