From Hospital to Home: Health Professionals' Experiences Regarding the Needs of Palliative Patients.

Abstract

Community palliative care teams play a central role in providing integrated palliative care, promoting continuity of care between the hospital and home for individuals in palliative situations. This study aimed to understand the experiences of health professionals in community palliative care teams regarding the needs of palliative patients during the transition and integration process of palliative care from hospital to home. A descriptive phenomenological study was conducted. Twenty-eight health professionals from community palliative care teams in Portugal were recruited. Data were collected through individual interviews and analyzed using Giorgi's method. Six themes emerged from the data analysis, reflecting the essence of health professionals' experiences with the needs of palliative patients during the integration process of palliative care: 1) Perceived loss of patient autonomy and adaptation to change; 2) Preparation and support for the transition; 3) Emotional Aspects and Psychological Impact observed in patients; 4) Challenges Faced by Caregivers as perceived by professionals; 6) Community support, support networks, and assistive technologies. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of health professionals' experiences in integrating palliative care at home, highlighting the complexity of this process and the need for organizational, emotional, and training support.