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Recognition of the difficulties involved in replicating evidence-based interventions is well documented in the literature within the medical field. Promising research findings are often not translated into practice, and if they are, there is a significant time gap between study conclusion and practice adoption. The purpose of this article is to describe the barriers and facilitators encountered by two managed care of organizations while replicating an evidence-based end of life in-home palliative care model. Using Diffusion of Innovation Theory as a theoretical framework, results from focus groups and interviews with the project's clinical, administrative and research teams are presented and recommendations made for improving translational efforts. The process of replicating the end of life in-home palliative care model clearly illustrated the key elements required for successfully diffusing innovation. These key elements include marketing and communication, leadership, organizational support and training and mentorship. This qualitative process study provides clear, real world perspectives of the myriad of challenges encountered in replicating an evidence-based project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents letters to the editor on various medical topics as of May 1, 2002. Treatment of congestive heart failure; Postmenopausal hormone replacement, body mass index, and quality of life; Varicella vaccine and shingles; Chocolate consumption and platelet function.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with physician referrals to end-of-life (EOL) care., Study Design: Cross-sectional, web-based survey., Methods: Participants were managed care physicians (n = 545) from the Southern California region of a national nonprofit health maintenance organization who treated a patient in their office within 6 months of the patient's death from a chronic condition. Measures included self-reports of referrals to EOL services, comfort level discussing EOL with patients, personal/family experience with hospice, and demographic characteristics., Results: Participants were most commonly US born (69.1%), married (83.8%), and male (66.0%) with a mean age of 47 years (SD = 8.9 years). About half were Caucasian (51.7%). Logistic regression revealed that family/internal medicine physicians were nearly 9 times more likely to make EOL referrals (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.879-19.434), and physicians comfortable discussing EOL care were nearly 7 times more likely to refer (95% CI 3.465-12.750). Younger age was significantly associated with EOL referrals; with every 1-year decrease in age, physicians were 5% more likely to refer (95% CI 0.911-0.985). Family/internal medicine physicians (95% CI 1.259-2.899) and those comfortable discussing EOL care (95% CI 2.964-9.685) were also more likely to make frequent (4 or more) referrals, Conclusions: This study highlights factors associated with EOL referrals that may be enhanced at the organizational level through training and educating physicians. Results suggest that organizations should work toward improving physician ease and comfort with EOL conversations. This study serves as an important step toward understanding and reducing physician-level barriers to EOL referrals.

Kaiser Permanente (KP) has been a pioneer in the development of hospice services in the United States. Since 1978, when hospice services were introduced in the KP Southern California Region, they have been gradually expanded to benefit thousands of patients and their families. However, important barriers to timely, appropriate utilization of hospice care remain. A pilot project conducted in our TriCentral Service Area has shown that palliative care-a newer development in end-of-life care-can be cost-effective in addition to being beneficial for patients and their families. Efforts are underway to emulate this model of care at other KP facilities. Availability of both home-based and inpatient palliative care services can expand the number and type of patients who, as they near the end of life, can benefit from effective symptom control and other support.