Conducting qualitative research among terminally ill Medicare beneficiaries at the end of life
Location
1047
Format Type
Event
Format Type
Paper
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
January 2019
Abstract
“Nothing about us without us” captures the importance of including the voices and perspectives of affected individuals when designing and implementing public policy. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is currently testing the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM), a new approach to care in which eligible Medicare beneficiaries receive supportive services in their homes from participating hospice providers without forgoing treatment for their terminal condition. As part of the MCCM evaluation, Abt Associates conducted in-person in-depth interviews with terminally ill Medicare beneficiaries. Interviews focused on the experience of care while enrolled in MCCM.
Training staff to gather information from this potentially vulnerable population required careful consideration and planning in partnership with Abt’s Institutional Review Board. The training approach included procedures for identifying appropriate Medicare beneficiaries to interview, special considerations for discussing the grief of terminal illness, and protocols in case of medical emergencies during the interview. Experienced hospice clinicians and qualitative methodologists observed the training sessions and provided feedback to interviewers through the use of role-play. Data collectors were trained to recognize when the interview should be ended using what-if scenarios and situational analysis. Lessons learned in preparing for and conducting these interviews will be discussed.
Keywords
hospice, end of life, qualitative research, training, Medicare
Conducting qualitative research among terminally ill Medicare beneficiaries at the end of life
1047
“Nothing about us without us” captures the importance of including the voices and perspectives of affected individuals when designing and implementing public policy. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) is currently testing the Medicare Care Choices Model (MCCM), a new approach to care in which eligible Medicare beneficiaries receive supportive services in their homes from participating hospice providers without forgoing treatment for their terminal condition. As part of the MCCM evaluation, Abt Associates conducted in-person in-depth interviews with terminally ill Medicare beneficiaries. Interviews focused on the experience of care while enrolled in MCCM.
Training staff to gather information from this potentially vulnerable population required careful consideration and planning in partnership with Abt’s Institutional Review Board. The training approach included procedures for identifying appropriate Medicare beneficiaries to interview, special considerations for discussing the grief of terminal illness, and protocols in case of medical emergencies during the interview. Experienced hospice clinicians and qualitative methodologists observed the training sessions and provided feedback to interviewers through the use of role-play. Data collectors were trained to recognize when the interview should be ended using what-if scenarios and situational analysis. Lessons learned in preparing for and conducting these interviews will be discussed.
Comments
Breakout Session B