Nurses' views on using the Liverpool care pathway in an acute hospital setting

Abstract

The Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP) is one of three major recent UK initiatives to improve the care of people dying with malignant and non-malignant disease. This focus group research aimed to explore nurses' perceptions of using the LCP in an acute hospital setting, their perceptions of its impact on patient care, and their confidence in care at the end of life, as well as to generate new ideas among peers. Six themes were identified: use of the LCP as a care tool; improved confidence, training, and support; the nursing-medical relationship; dying in hospital; and end-of-life issues. The nurses reported that the LCP has increased their confidence and resulted in improved patient care. Exploring the effect of the LCP on patient care may provide valuable data that may inform how the LCP is integrated into practice in the future.