Protocol: Mapping of key performance indicators for palliative care in intensive care Units: A scoping review

This scoping review protocol aims to identify and map key performance indicators (KPIs) for palliative care in intensive care units (ICUs). Patients in the ICU are consistently getting older with more complex needs to manage. These aspects highlight a current need to integrate palliative care alongside active treatment to support high-quality, patient-centred care. Yet, existing KPIs are not well-defined and are inconsistently applied across policy and evidence, with limited evidence specific to ICU contexts.

These findings will inform the development of a structured framework for evaluating palliative care integration in ICUs. This will support benchmarking and policy-relevant decision-making regarding palliative care delivery in ICU settings.

This study is informed by, and complements, the broader PhD research on PAL.M.ED-ICU.