Shared care in basic level palliative home care: organizational and interpersonal challenges.
BACKGROUND
Little is known about the existing barriers to cooperation among health professionals in basic level palliative care for terminally ill patients with cancer in primary health care.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze health professionals' views on interprofessional cooperation in basic level palliative home care for terminally ill cancer patients.


METHODS
This study was a qualitative, descriptive study based on 7 semistructured group interviews conducted in the former Aarhus County, Denmark. Forty-three health professionals (23 family physicians, 5 chief physicians, and 15 home care nurses) were interviewed.


RESULTS
Two main categories of problems were identified: (1) the organization of palliative home care (need for proactive planning from the start of the palliative trajectory, clear distribution of tasks, advancement of more efficient communication pathways, and improved accessibility to all health professionals) and (2) interaction between health professionals (increased knowledge of and respect for the competencies of other health occupations and individuals).


CONCLUSIONS
The study indicates problems with respect to both the organization of the basic level palliative home care and the working culture among health professionals. The main issues: distribution of tasks, information exchange, availability, respect, and personal acquaintance are pivotal to improve the delivery of palliative home care, to training in palliative care and warrant future research.
Neergaard
Mette Asbjoern
MA
Palliative Team, Department of Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. man@alm.au.dk
Olesen
Frede
F
Jensen
Anders Bonde
AB
Sondergaard
Jens
J
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003718:Denmark; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D019452:Terminally Ill