Community-based home palliative care competency indicators for home care supervisors: a modified Delphi study

As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, home-based palliative care becomes increasingly important. Home care supervisors’ competencies are key to supporting a good death at home. The present study developed competency indicators for such supervisors to strengthen their professional development and promote home-based palliative care. A multiphase process was used to develop these competency indicators. In the initial phase, focus group interviews were conducted with 64 participants to establish a preliminary set of indicators. These indicators were refined using a modified Delphi method, and a panel of 10 specialists with academic or practical expertise in home-based palliative care was formed. After 2 rounds of evaluation, the original 80 items across 10 domains were refined to 45 items. These indicators can serve as references for assessment and training in home care agencies, enhancing the delivery and quality of home-based palliative care and its integration into community settings.