Cummings, G; Biondo, PD; Campbell, D; et al. 2011. Can the global uptake of palliative care innovations be improved? Insights from a bibliometric analysis of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System. PALLIATIVE MEDICINE 25 (1): 71-82

[Eugene Garfield]

Cummings, G; Biondo, PD; Campbell, D; Stiles, C; Fainsinger, R; Muise, M; 
Hagen, N. 2011. Can the global uptake of palliative care innovations be 
improved? Insights from a bibliometric analysis of the Edmonton Symptom 
Assessment System. PALLIATIVE MEDICINE 25 (1): 71-82..

Author Full Name(s): Cummings, Greta; Biondo, Patricia D.; Campbell, David; 
Stiles, Carla; Fainsinger, Robin; Muise, Melanie; Hagen, Neil
Language: English
Document Type: Article

Author Keywords: Bibliometric methods; diffusion of innovation; knowledge 
transfer; palliative care; symptom management
KeyWords Plus: CANCER-PATIENTS; EXPERIENCE; SCALE; LIFE

Abstract: Clinical research is undertaken to improve care for palliative patients, 
but little is known about how to support the broad uptake of resultant 
innovations. The objectives of this paper are to: (1) explore the uptake of the 
Edmonton Symptom Assessment System throughout the global palliative care 
community through the lens of a bibliometric review - a research method that 
maps out the journey of new knowledge uptake by evaluating where key 
articles are cited in published literature; (2) construct hypotheses on attributes 
of the global community of palliative care learners; and (3) make inferences on 
approaches that could improve knowledge transfer. While preliminary, results of 
the study suggest several specific approaches that could support widespread 
uptake of innovations in palliative care: targeting publication in high impact, 
international journals; explicitly focusing on how the innovation is applied to 
best practice; encouraging additional research to expand on early studies; 
consciously targeting key professional groups and organizations to promote 
discussion in the grey literature; and early translation and promotion within 
multiple languages.

Addresses: [Cummings, Greta; Muise, Melanie] Univ Alberta, Fac Nursing, 
Edmonton, AB, Canada; [Biondo, Patricia D.; Hagen, Neil] Univ Calgary Oncol, 
Calgary, AB, Canada; [Fainsinger, Robin] Univ Alberta Canada, Div Palliat Care 
Med, Edmonton, AB, Canada
Reprint Address: Cummings, G, Univ Alberta, Fac Nursing, Edmonton, AB, 
Canada.

E-mail Address: gretac at ualberta.ca
ISSN: 0269-2163
DOI: 10.1177/0269216310381449
URL: 
http://pmj.sagepub.com/content/early/2010/09/16/0269216310381449.abstrac
t