Birgitta Wallerstedt1,2, Eva Benzein1,2, Kristina Schildmeijer1, Anna Sandgren1,2. 1. Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Linnaeus University, Sweden. 2. Center for Collaborative Palliative Care, Linnaeus University, Sweden.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite increased attention and knowledge in palliative care, there is still confusion concerning how to interpret the concept of palliative care and implement it in practice. This can result in difficulties for healthcare professionals in identifying patients whom would benefit from palliative care, which, in turn, could lead to a delay in meeting patients' needs. AIM: To explore healthcare professionals' perceptions of palliative care. METHOD: Data were collected through twelve interprofessional focus group interviews in community care and hospital wards in south Sweden (n = 74). All interviews were analysed with latent content analysis. RESULTS: Three domains were revealed: first, a blurred conceptual understanding as participants described palliative care using synonyms, diagnoses, phases, natural care and holism; second, a challenge to communicate transitions concerned the importance of how and when the transition to palliative care was communicated and documented; finally, a need for interprofessional collaboration was described as well as the consequences for severely ill persons, relatives and healthcare professionals when it was not established. CONCLUSION: The perceptions about how to interpret palliative care differed as well as when palliative care should be offered and decided, which might have practical consequences. How long a person has left to live is of great significance for decision-making, caregiving and preparation in palliative care. The challenge is to use interprofessional communication to promote understanding and collaborate across varied care levels. Integrating palliative care across diverse care levels could be one way to reduce the ambiguity of palliative care.
BACKGROUND: Despite increased attention and knowledge in palliative care, there is still confusion concerning how to interpret the concept of palliative care and implement it in practice. This can result in difficulties for healthcare professionals in identifying patients whom would benefit from palliative care, which, in turn, could lead to a delay in meeting patients' needs. AIM: To explore healthcare professionals' perceptions of palliative care. METHOD: Data were collected through twelve interprofessional focus group interviews in community care and hospital wards in south Sweden (n = 74). All interviews were analysed with latent content analysis. RESULTS: Three domains were revealed: first, a blurred conceptual understanding as participants described palliative care using synonyms, diagnoses, phases, natural care and holism; second, a challenge to communicate transitions concerned the importance of how and when the transition to palliative care was communicated and documented; finally, a need for interprofessional collaboration was described as well as the consequences for severely ill persons, relatives and healthcare professionals when it was not established. CONCLUSION: The perceptions about how to interpret palliative care differed as well as when palliative care should be offered and decided, which might have practical consequences. How long a person has left to live is of great significance for decision-making, caregiving and preparation in palliative care. The challenge is to use interprofessional communication to promote understanding and collaborate across varied care levels. Integrating palliative care across diverse care levels could be one way to reduce the ambiguity of palliative care.
Authors: Xavier Busquet-Duran; Eva Maria Jiménez-Zafra; Magda Tura-Poma; Olga Bosch-de la Rosa; Anna Moragas-Roca; Susana Martin-Moreno; Emilio Martínez-Losada; Silvia Crespo-Ramírez; Lola Lestón-Lado; Núria Salamero-Tura; Joana Llobera-Estrany; Núria Oriol-Peregrina; Eduard Moreno-Gabriel; Josep Maria Manresa-Domínguez; Pere Torán-Monserrat Journal: Healthcare (Basel) Date: 2021-02-04
Authors: Carla Reigada; Carlos Centeno; Edna Gonçalves; Maria Arantzamendi Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-05-17 Impact factor: 3.390
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