Towards the development of minimum datasets (MDS) in adult palliative care populations : A systematic scoping review of symptom domains and the utility of MDSs across different clinical contexts
Co-Principal Investigators : Lynn R Gauthier, Josée Savard, Mélissa Henry
Patients with life-limiting illnesses and receiving palliative care have complex physical and psychological symptom management needs requiring standardized measurement that is valid and reliable. A Minimum Dataset (MDS) is defined as an assessment tool that includes a set of measures to obtain an understanding of the symptom burden of a palliative care patient.
In this study involving several members of the Quebec Research Network in Palliative and End of Life (RQSPAL), we are conducting a literature review to identify MDS’ developed for adults receiving palliative care in French or English. This review will identify gaps in the symptom domains and use of MDS across different care settings and ways to improve the methodology of existing tools and their implementation.