Nodol: uno studio descrittivo delle reti di cure palliative in Italia.

Summary
The provisions set out in law no. 38/2010 refer to a coordinated and consistent development of the palliative
care and pain management networks. However, no data exist on palliative care services being carried out by
nurses who are either close to terminal patients or who coordinate this type of services. The objective of this study
is to describe palliative care services in Italy, starting from the background knowledge of nursing supervisors.
The survey was based on quantitative, descriptive and observational information and was implemented via a
questionnaire that investigates nine organizational dimensions of palliative care networks. The questionnaire
was handed out to 248 nursing supervisors. The overall response rate in the study was low (20.6%) and would
seem to suggest a minimal or indirect supervisors' prior knowledge of palliative care services; critical issues have
emerged at different levels of organization of the palliative care network. However, the fact that 86% of nursing
supervisors mentioned the presence of a widespread competence in palliative care among their staff and
therefore within the network was positive.
The study showed that, in Italy, there are examples of facilities that display good practices and that are fully operational;
however, the efforts conducted at national and regional level still do not seem to be sufficient to ensure
an adequate responsive care that is consistent for all patients.
Key words: palliative care network, nursing supervisors, quality of services