Numerous studies show that patients want to have conversations about their end-of-life care; however, many physicians do not feel comfortable with the topic and are now asking hospice nurses to have these conversations. Which type of research method should be used to determine the impact of this change?

A case study focuses on an in-depth analysis of a specific instance or situation, often involving a small number of subjects. While it can provide detailed insights, it lacks the scalability and generalizability needed to evaluate the broad impact of changing communication practices across multiple patients effectively.

A physician focus group would gather opinions and insights from physicians regarding their discomfort with end-of-life discussions. However, this method would not capture the direct experiences or feelings of patients. The focus would be too narrow, limiting the ability to assess how the change affects patient care and satisfaction.

While a nurse focus group could provide valuable insights into nurses' perspectives on having these conversations, it again does not address the patients' views. Understanding nurses' experiences does not measure the actual impact on patients, which is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the new approach.