Developing and Evaluating a Care Pathway for Improving Palliative Care in Western Norway.

To operationalize the palliative care approach and improve care across services, a palliative care pathway (PCP) was developed in Western Norway. The PCP is an evidence-based framework for palliative care assessment and interventions in the form of a web-based flowchart. An electronic questionnaire aimed at health care professionals (HCPs) examined perceived usability and content. We registered PCP webpage activity and conducted an evaluation seminar and group interviews. The pathway was developed (2015) and piloted in two cities (2017-2018/2020). HCPs perceived that the PCP contributed to increased palliative care knowledge and skills and worked as a reference and educational tool. They found the PCP easily accessible but asked for a search option and easier webpage navigation. An available PCP can support a common language for palliative care in different settings and enhance patient-centered care. HCPs need time to familiarize themselves with its content and use.