Non-specialist palliative care - question prompt list preparation 139 KEY MESSAGES What was already known? • It is important that patients and family are able to express their care needs and questions in order to tailor and offer appropriate palliative care. • The use of the question prompt list (QPL) developed by Clayton et al. enabled patients and family to ask more questions about prognosis and end of life during palliative care consultations. What are the new findings? • Patients and family as well as clinicians found the QPL comprehensive and not too extensive; because of its relevance they would not shorten the QPL. • Clinicians considered the QPL both as a reminder for themselves to have an overview of what topics can be discussed, and as a helpful tool for patients and family to prepare their consultation; patients and family also used the QPL to discuss topics among themselves. What is their significance? • The use of the QPL enabled patients and family to regain a sense of control over their life and future, which helps to make informed and personalised decisions about the end of life. • Prerequisites for optimal use are that patients and family are already familiar with the concept of palliative care, that patients identify themselves as being in the palliative phase, and, that patients and family have enough time, energy, and inner space to use the QPL. 7
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