Point Prevalence Survey of Palliative Care Needs in Hospitals and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly. (PCD)

December 23, 2025 updated by: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Palliative Care Day: Point Prevalence Survey of Palliative Care Needs in Hospitals and Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly.

The goal of this observational, point-prevalence study is to assess the burden of palliative care needs among adults hospitalised in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics wards, and among residents of long-term care facilities, on the National Palliative Care Day (11 November). The main question it aims to answer is: What is the prevalence of unmet palliative care needs in hospital and long-term care settings on 11 November? Participants (patients and residents) will be evaluated through a structured, web-based questionnaire designed for this study. The survey will collect clinical, functional, and symptom-related data- including comorbidities, mobility, nutritional status, dysphagia, pressure ulcers, indicators of palliative care needs (NECPAL), pain assessment, and delirium screening (4AT)-to produce a detailed snapshot of palliative care needs across settings.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

The National Palliative Care Day, held annually on 11 November, provides a unique opportunity to assess the prevalence of palliative care needs among patients in hospitals and residents of long-term care facilities. Beyond raising awareness of palliative care, this occasion supports more accurate monitoring of patients with unmet palliative needs and enables the collection of concrete data on current care provision.

This study aims to measure the prevalence of palliative care needs among adults admitted to Internal Medicine and Geriatrics wards and among residents of participating long-term care facilities on 11 November. Assessment will be performed using a purpose-designed questionnaire. The study intends to: (1) generate a detailed estimate of palliative care needs in hospital and residential settings; (2) increase awareness among healthcare professionals and promote timely identification and management of palliative care needs; and (3) highlight the relevance of a palliative approach not only in traditional palliative care services (hospice, home-based palliative care) but also within hospitals and long-term care facilities.

A point-prevalence (cross-sectional) design will be used through administration of a web-based survey.

Sample

Inclusion criteria

Participants must meet all of the following:

  • age ≥18 years;
  • hospitalised in participating wards or residing in participating long-term care facilities (medicalised nursing homes: RSA Medicalizzata, R2, R2D, R3) on 11 November;
  • able to provide written informed consent and consent for data processing, or oral consent supported by a relative, caregiver, or proxy.

Exclusion criteria Participants will be excluded if they are unable to provide written consent or supported oral consent for participation and data processing.

Questionnaire

Palliative care needs will be assessed using a dedicated questionnaire (Appendix 1), delivered via a web platform. The instrument comprises three sections:

Facility-level data:

  • region;
  • ward type (Internal Medicine, Geriatrics) or care model for long-term facilities;
  • number of beds and number of eligible patients;
  • availability of an in-house palliative care service (hospitals) or access to specialist palliative consultation (long-term care).

Rater characteristics:

  • socio-demographic data (age group, sex);
  • profession, years of experience, current or completed specialty training.

Patient-level data:

  • socio-demographic variables (age, sex);
  • comorbidities (Charlson Comorbidity Index);
  • mobility (baseline and current functional status);
  • daily nutritional intake and recent decline;
  • dysphagia (presence and type);
  • pressure ulcers (including stage III-IV lesions);
  • palliative care indicators (NECPAL);
  • pain assessment (Numeric Pain Rating Scale, or PAINAD for advanced dementia);
  • delirium screening (4AT).

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

3000

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Italy
      • Roma, Italy, 00168
        • Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
    • Rome
      • Roma, Rome, Italy, 00168
        • Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of adults (≥18 years) hospitalised in Internal Medicine and Geriatrics wards, as well as residents of participating long-term care facilities for older adults (RSA Medicalizzata, R2, R2D, R3) on 11 November, the National Palliative Care Day. Participants represent a heterogeneous group of medically complex individuals, typically characterised by multimorbidity, functional impairment, advanced age, and a high burden of chronic disease. All eligible patients and residents present on the day of assessment will be considered for inclusion, provided informed consent can be obtained directly or with the support of a caregiver or legal proxy.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Admitted to participating Internal Medicine or Geriatrics wards or resident in participating long-term care facilities for older adults (medicalised nursing homes: RSA Medicalizzata, R2, R2D, R3) on 11 November (National Palliative Care Day)
  • Able to provide: written informed consent for study participation and data processing, or oral consent supported by a relative/caregiver/legal proxy

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability to provide written informed consent and absence of a relative/caregiver/legal proxy able to support oral consent for participation and data processing

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Prevalence
Time Frame: 1 DAY
Prevalence of palliative care needs
1 DAY

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Graziano Onder, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 11, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 21, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 23, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

January 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

January 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 23, 2025

Last Verified

November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 8190

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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