Table 1 Table of included studies in the category Interventions to structure and standardise clinical practice

Robinson 2012[32], Systematic review, 3/4 studies were relevant for inclusion

People with cognitive impairment

Defined as ‘Any kind of advance care planning’ by review authors.

Usual care

Any care environment, including nursing homes

Caplan 2006, Controlled before after design

A structured educational programme (Let Me Decide) for health personnel, residents and their families

Nursing homes in Canada, Australia and USA

Molloy 2000, Randomised controlled trial

The Let Me Decide programme in addition to hospital-to-the-nursing-home

Morrison 2005, Non-randomised controlled trial

Half-day course for social workers in guiding residents and families in ACP. Feedback to physicians was given in intervention group to initiate referral to palliative care.

Hall 2011[33], Systematic review

Residents of care homes for older people

Defined as ‘All types of palliative care service delivery interventions’ by review authors.

Not specified

Setting defined as ‘collective institutional settings where care is provided’ Nursing homes in USA

1/3 studies was relevant for inclusion: Casarett 2005, Randomised controlled trial

Hutt 2011[34], Controlled before-after study

Nursing home residents with symptoms of systemic lower respiratory tract infection

Multifaceted implementation of a national guideline for management of nursing-home-acquired pneumonia

Usual care

16 nursing homes in Colorado, USA (8 intervention homes and 8 control homes)

Loeb 2006[35], Cluster randomised controlled trial

Nursing home residents with pneumonia

On-site treatment of pneumonia according to pathway

Usual care

22 nursing homes Ontario, Canada

Lee 2002[36], Cluster randomised controlled trial

Nursing home residents with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Community nurses followed up residents for 6 months post-hospitalisation according to a care protocol

Usual care

45 nursing homes in Hong Kong, China