The introduction and use of Pal require a customized approach. This is evident from research by The Hague University of Applied Sciences commissioned by the Technology for Home program. Pal is an app that supports caregivers in palliative care: care and assistance for people who can no longer be cured.

Pal is reshaping palliative care. In the app, caregivers can plan and collaborate, track and monitor complaints, and find concrete information. In this way, Pal helps families to be more self-reliant, communicative, and informed.

Purpose of the investigation

The Hague University of Applied Sciences has conducted an exploratory study into ways in which Pal can be given a place in the Dutch healthcare system. The study focused on two questions:

Which healthcare providers and/or organisations in palliative care can (help) implement Pal?
Which factors, such as ease of use and (local) content/topics, play a role in successful Pal implementation?

Interviews with healthcare professionals

For the study, eight healthcare professionals were interviewed, each with a different role. For example, the researchers spoke to a nurse, a general practitioner and a program manager of elderly care, but also a district nurse and a policy advisor of a healthcare organization. The participants shared their opinions and thoughts about Pal and gave advice about (the content of) the app.

Connecting with the target group

The healthcare professionals emphasized the importance of offering Pal to a caregiver at the right time. For example, when a patient is discharged from specialist care and is referred back to the GP. Or when the burden on caregivers increases significantly.

In addition, cooperation with relevant parties is important. Think of the Transmural Care Association and the Palliative Care Network. The healthcare professionals also advise to cooperate with initiatives from the municipality of The Hague, such as the informal care café.

It can also be valuable to add local information to the app, for example about hospices and home care organizations in the area.

Conclusion

An important conclusion of the research: palliative care is not linked to a single diagnosis. The implementation and use of the app therefore require a tailored approach. There are many ways and possibilities that can be further investigated. A combined approach seems to be the best way for now to ensure that informal caregivers become familiar with Pal, according to the researchers.