Perceptions of Key Domains of Home-Based Palliative Care Among Healthcare Professionals (MULTIPAL)

NCT07554209 | Enrolling By Invitation DMC

• 1 other identifier: 2026-0194-1 (MULTIPAL)
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 580
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This observational cross-sectional study evaluates and compares healthcare professionals' perceptions of key domains of home-based palliative care. Using an anonymous online survey and multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) methods, the study explores perceived importance, strategic prioritization, and self-assessed performance across five core palliative care domains. The study is conducted across Hospital-at-Home units throughout the Valencian Community (Spain).

Conditions

Palliative Care; Decision Making; Home Care, Hospital-Based; Health Services Research

Keywords

multicriteria decision analysis; Palliative care; Home-based palliative care; Healthcare professionals; Multidisciplinary team; Professional perceptions; Decision making; Priority setting; Quality of care; Health services research; Professional training

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• 1. Multicriteria prioritization of home-based palliative care domains (TOPSIS)

  Relative prioritization of five predefined domains of home-based palliative care based on healthcare professionals' perceived importance and performance (symptom control; communication and shared decision-making; psychosocial and spiritual care; coordination and continuity of care; and support for healthcare professionals) . Measure: TOPSIS closeness coefficient for each domain . Unit of Measure: Closeness coefficient (0-1). Measurement Tool / Method: Multicriteria Decision Analysis using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS).

  Baseline (single cross-sectional survey)

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• 2. Preference-based ranking of palliative care domains (PROMETHEE)

  Baseline (single cross-sectional survey)

• 3. Hierarchical weighting and consistency of each domain importance (AHP)

  Baseline (single cross-sectional survey)

• 4. Interprofessional consensus on domain prioritization

  Baseline (single cross-sectional survey)

• 5. Importance-performance gap in palliative care domains

  Baseline (single cross-sectional survey)

• Variation in domain prioritization by professional and experiential factors

  Baseline (single cross-sectional survey)

Study Arms (1)

Healthcare professionals in Hospital-at-Home units

Healthcare professionals with direct clinical responsibilities in Hospital-at-Home units providing home-based palliative care within the Valencian Community. Participants complete an anonymous cross-sectional survey assessing perceptions and prioritization of key domains of palliative care.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The survey will be addressed to healthcare professionals working in Hospital-at-Home units across the Valencian Community (Spain). Eligible participants will be professionals with direct clinical responsibilities in the care of patients and families receiving home-based palliative care. The following professional profiles will be included: Physicians Nursing assistants Nurse case managers (including those involved in remote monitoring and disease management) Clinical psychologists Social workers Physiotherapists Professionals who do not have direct clinical or care-related responsibilities, such as administrative staff or other non-clinical support personnel within Hospital-at-Home units, will be excluded from the study.

You may qualify if:

• Healthcare professionals working in Hospital-at-Home units providing home-based palliative care within the Valencian Community.

You may not qualify if:

• Healthcare professionals without direct clinical or care-related responsibilities (e.g., administrative or non-clinical support staff) within Hospital-at-Home units.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Instituto de Investigacion Sanitaria La Fe: lead
• Universitat Politècnica de València: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Hospital Universitari i Politècnic La Fe

Valencia, Valencia, 46026, Spain

Location

Related Publications (10)

• Khan I, Pintelon L, Martin H. The Application of Multicriteria Decision Analysis Methods in Health Care: A Literature Review. Med Decis Making. 2022 Feb;42(2):262-274. doi: 10.1177/0272989X211019040. Epub 2021 Jun 24.

  PMID: 34166149 BACKGROUND

• Frazao TDC, Camilo DGG, Cabral ELS, Souza RP. Multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) in health care: a systematic review of the main characteristics and methodological steps. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. 2018 Nov 1;18(1):90. doi: 10.1186/s12911-018-0663-1.

  PMID: 30382826 BACKGROUND

• Refolo P, Raimondi C, Masilla SS, Argo A, Capulli E, Ceruti S, Gonella S, Ingravallo F, Miccinesi G, Picozzi M, Redaelli P, Spagnolo AG. Attitudes of physicians, nurses, and the general public toward End-of-Life (EoL) decisions in European countries: an umbrella review. BMC Med Ethics. 2025 May 9;26(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s12910-025-01219-z.

  PMID: 40346520 BACKGROUND

• Van Beek K, Woitha K, Ahmed N, Menten J, Jaspers B, Engels Y, Ahmedzai SH, Vissers K, Hasselaar J. Comparison of legislation, regulations and national health strategies for palliative care in seven European countries (Results from the Europall Research Group): a descriptive study. BMC Health Serv Res. 2013 Jul 17;13:275. doi: 10.1186/1472-6963-13-275.

  PMID: 23866928 BACKGROUND

• Pastrana T, Wenk R, De Lima L. Consensus-Based Palliative Care Competencies for Undergraduate Nurses and Physicians: A Demonstrative Process with Colombian Universities. J Palliat Med. 2016 Jan;19(1):76-82. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2015.0202. Epub 2015 Oct 20.

  PMID: 26485612 BACKGROUND

• De Roo ML, Leemans K, Claessen SJ, Cohen J, Pasman HR, Deliens L, Francke AL; EURO IMPACT. Quality indicators for palliative care: update of a systematic review. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013 Oct;46(4):556-72. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2012.09.013. Epub 2013 Jun 26.

  PMID: 23809769 BACKGROUND

• Hui D, Hannon BL, Zimmermann C, Bruera E. Improving patient and caregiver outcomes in oncology: Team-based, timely, and targeted palliative care. CA Cancer J Clin. 2018 Sep;68(5):356-376. doi: 10.3322/caac.21490. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

  PMID: 30277572 BACKGROUND

• Blay C, Martori JC, Limon E, Oller R, Vila L, Gomez-Batiste X. [Find your 1%: prevalence and mortality of a community cohort of people with advanced chronic disease and palliative needs]. Aten Primaria. 2019 Feb;51(2):71-79. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2017.07.004. Epub 2017 Nov 20. Spanish.

  PMID: 29157932 BACKGROUND

• Vega T, Arrieta E, Lozano JE, Miralles M, Anes Y, Gomez C, Quinones C, Perucha M, Margolles M, Gomez de Caso JA, Gil M, Fernandez S, de la Iglesia P, Lopez A, Alamo R, Zurriaga O, Mauro Ramos J; por el Grupo RECENT. [Palliative and support care at home in primary care]. Gac Sanit. 2011 May-Jun;25(3):205-10. doi: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2011.02.005. Epub 2011 Apr 14. Spanish.

  PMID: 21496971 BACKGROUND

• Centeno C, Sitte T, de Lima L, Alsirafy S, Bruera E, Callaway M, Foley K, Luyirika E, Mosoiu D, Pettus K, Puchalski C, Rajagopal MR, Yong J, Garralda E, Rhee JY, Comoretto N. White Paper for Global Palliative Care Advocacy: Recommendations from a PAL-LIFE Expert Advisory Group of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Vatican City. J Palliat Med. 2018 Oct;21(10):1389-1397. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2018.0248. Epub 2018 Sep 26.

  PMID: 30256135 BACKGROUND

Study Officials

• Vicente Ruiz Garcia

  Hospital at Home Unit - Hospital UiP La Fe, Valencia, Spain

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Elisa Soriano Melchor, MD, PhD

  Hospital at Home Unit - Hospital UiP La Fe, Valencia, Spain

  STUDY CHAIR

• Alberto Muñoz Cano, MD, PhD

  Hospital at Home Unit - Hospital UiP La Fe, Valencia, Spain

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: OTHER
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 17, 2026
• First Posted: April 28, 2026
• Study Start: May 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2026
• Last Updated: April 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: SAP, CSR
• Time Frame: De-identified and aggregated data will become available after completion of data analysis and publication of the main study results, expected within 6 months after study completion. Data will remain available for a minimum period of 5 years following initial dissemination, in accordance with institutional data retention policies
• Access Criteria: Access to the shared data will be granted to investigators from participating Hospital-at-Home units within the Valencian Community and to qualified researchers who submit a reasonable request. Shared data will consist of aggregated and fully de-identified datasets, including multicriteria decision analysis outputs (TOPSIS, PROMETHEE, AHP summary scores), descriptive subgroup analyses, and supporting documentation (e.g., data dictionary). Requests for access will be reviewed by the study investigators. Data will be provided exclusively for academic research, quality improvement, or educational purposes, and users may be required to agree to conditions of use that prohibit re-identification attempts and unauthorized redistribution.

Locations

ES (1)