National palliative care performance indicators: results of the 2006 performance indicator data collection
released: 3 Sep 2007 author: AIHW
This report presents the findings of the second national collection of performance indicator data from Australia's palliative care sector. The information collected was designed to support the calculation of four national performance indicators that were developed and agreed by representatives of the states and territories and the Australian Government on the Palliative care Intergovernmental Forum. The four performance indicators are based on the goals and objectives of the National Palliative Care Strategy and provide some information on the extent to which the Strategy has been implemented.
ISSN 1446-9820; ISBN 978 1 74024 719 1; Cat. no. AUS 94; 28pp.; Internet only
In summary
- This report sets out the findings of the 2006 national collection of performance indicator information for the palliative care sector in Australia.
- In 2003, the Palliative Care Intergovernmental Forum, which comprises members from state and territory governments and the Australian Government, developed and agreed four national performance indicators. The performance indicators reflect the goals and objectives contained in the National Palliative Care Strategy (DoHA 2000), which outlines national priorities designed to inform palliative care policy and service development in Australia. The performance indicator results are summarised in the table below.
Summary of results for nationally agreed palliative care performance indicators
| Performance indicator 1: The proportion of administrative health regions that have a written plan for palliative care that incorporates palliative care elements |
63% |
| Performance indicator 2: The proportion of palliative care agencies that routinely undertake or undergo formal assessment against the Palliative Care Australia Standards |
21% |
| Performance indicator 3: The proportion of palliative care agencies that actively collect feedback from clients and staff (within the workforce) relating to services and service delivery |
65% |
| Performance indicator 4: The proportion of palliative care agencies that have formal working partnerships with other service provider(s) or organisation(s) |
85% |
- While the 2006 palliative care performance indicator data collection has suggested that performance, as measured against the four nationally agreed performance indicators, has fallen since the 2005 collection, it is difficult to know what specific effect amendments to the survey forms/questions and a change in scope for the palliative care agency survey might have had on responses and results. These amendments are outlined in Section 3, as are the results of a specific analysis that investigated changes in results for those agencies and health regions that participated in both the 2005 and 2006 data collections.
- Given the 'trial' nature of the 2005 collection, and that some finetuning and further development of questions occurred in light of that collection, it is likely that the 2006 collection results should be considered more reliable. The third collection of national palliative care performance information data is currently being planned for late 2007. This collection will largely be a reiteration of the 2006 collection and it may be best to await results of that data collection to better understand changes in performance.
Recommended citation
AIHW 2007. National palliative care performance indicators: results of the 2006 performance indicator data collection. Cat. no. AUS 94. Canberra: AIHW. Viewed 12 June 2013 <http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=6442468024>.