The positioning of palliative care in acute care: A multiperspective qualitative study in the context of metastatic melanoma

Abstract

Our findings point to uncertainty around the scopes of practice in the transition to palliative care. The challenge in the transition process lies in achieving greater coherency of care within an increasingly specialized healthcare system. The findings may not only inform those within a metastatic melanoma context but may contribute more broadly to palliative practices within the acute care setting.

Palliative care utilization in oncology and hemato-oncology: a systematic review of cognitive barriers and facilitators from the perspective of healthcare professionals, adult patients, and their families

“…how and when initiate palliative care, and lack of familiarity with the basic principles of palliative care, including pain management, among medical students), or lack of one or more areas pertaining to it, such as existential issues [23] represent a serious obstacle to palliative care utilization. Some studies also reported a lack of understanding of palliative care services [22,25,43,54], their scope [29,64], or their applicability [51,64]. Others showed a lack of knowledge of locally available palliative care services among HPs [22,62].…”

General practitioners’ perceptions of best practice care at the end of life: a qualitative study

“…Despite this, most studies in this area have focused on the perspective of patients and families, 17,18 or GPs delivering palliative care and their perceptions of their day-to-day tasks. [19][20][21][22][23][24][25] Only one study has included specific questions on what GPs consider best practice palliative care, 26 though this was not the primary aim of the study.…”

Uncertain diagnosis and prognosis in advanced melanoma: a qualitative study of the experiences of bereaved carers in a time of immune and targeted therapies

“…Interviews were conducted by one of the authors (J.A.F. ), who has extensive experience with in‐depth interviewing of both patients and family carers in the context of an advanced melanoma diagnosis …”

“…Patients are often exposed to aggressive care and treatments near the end of life, raising concerns for the quality of care received and degree to which patient goals of care were discussed and addressed . Significantly, the interface between oncology and palliative care services is an ongoing challenge as emerging treatments reshape expectations and norms in end‐of‐life decision making, where stakes are high …”