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Abstract
Objective
This systematic review aimed to identify the referral criteria for palliative care in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Methods
We conducted an electronic search for publications on referral criteria for palliative care in patients with Parkinson’s disease in six electronic databases. The articles were thoroughly reviewed by two independent reviewers for inclusion using a predefined data extraction list. The referral criteria were thematically classified using a coding methodology.
Results
This systematic review included 36 publications. We identified 14 referral criteria themes. The most common referral indicators were functional decline (n = 11 [31%]), needs assessment tools (n = 11 [31%]), physical or emotional symptoms (n = 10[28%]), need for palliative care (n = 10 [28%]), decision support (n = 9 [25%]), advanced Parkinson’s disease (n = 7[19%]), and diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (n = 7 [19%]). However, there was a lack of consensus on symptom assessment tools. In addition, there were no agreed cut-offs or defined time for palliative care referral for patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Conclusions
The 14 themes identified in this systematic review were categorized into disease- and needs-based criteria. These themes show the wide range of referral timing and procedures. Further studies should be conducted to reveal standardized referral criteria.
PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY
Despite evidence showing the benefits of palliative care in patients with Parkinson’s disease, there is a lack of consensus on when, how, and why patients with Parkinson’s disease should be referred for palliative care. This manuscript summarizes and evaluates the criteria taken into account when making a palliative care referral for patients with Parkinson’s disease. We identified 925 publications. However, only 36 publications were included in the final analysis. Furthermore, we identified 14 themes that were categorized into disease- and needs-based criteria. This systematic review emphasizes the wide range of referral timing and procedures. Moreover, there is a need for more research to reveal standardized referral criteria.
Transparency
Declaration of funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Declaration of financial/other relationships
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
CMRO peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.
Author contributions
Y.C., L.H., H.Y., and W.Z. designed the study; Y.C., L.H., and W.L. performed the research; W.L. and Q.W. analyzed data; and Y.C. and W.Z. wrote the paper. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank their doctoral buddies for their support and help.