Implementation of palliative care for patients with terminal diseases from the viewpoint of healthcare personnel

• Published in: BMC research notes 2019-04, Vol.12 (1), p.217-5, Article 217
• Main Authors: Arisanti, Nita, Sasongko, Elsa Pudji Setiawati, Pandia, Veranita, Hilmanto, Dany
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Attitude of Health Personnel; Cancer; Caregivers; Case management; Clinical Competence; Codes; Collaboration; Data analysis; Data collection; Decision making; Empowerment; Families & family life; Family relations; Female; Health care industry; Health care policy; Health care reform; Health facilities; Health Services Accessibility - ethics; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data; Healthcare personnel; Hospice care; Hospitals; Humans; Implementation; Indonesia; Interviews; Male; Medical personnel; Medical research; Middle Aged; Nurses; Nurses - psychology; Palliation; Palliative care; Palliative Care - ethics; Palliative Care - psychology; Patient care; Patients; Pediatrics; Perceptions; Personnel; Physician-Patient Relations - ethics; Physicians - psychology; Practice; Primary care; Qualitative Research; Quality of life; Research Note; Researchers; Terminal Care - organization & administration; Terminally Ill - psychology
• ISSN: 1756-0500; 1756-0500
• DOI: 10.1186/s13104-019-4260-x

In Indonesia, palliative care has not been uniformly implemented at all levels of healthcare facilities. Healthcare personnel play an important role in providing that care. This study aimed to explore the current conditions and expectations regarding palliative care from the perspective of healthcare personnel. A qualitative study was conducted with 12 physicians and five nurses from December 2017 to June 2018. In-depth interviews of these professionals were conducted. The responses were subjected to inductive thematic analysis, generating five themes and 24 subthemes. The themes were (1) family and environment, including barriers and contributions to palliative care; (2) numbers and competence of healthcare providers; (3) accessibility of palliative care; (4) case management of patient's and family's problems by healthcare personnel; and (5) barriers or enabling factors from the healthcare system. Patients, family members, and healthcare personnel contribute to case management. Attention must be paid to improving access and the healthcare system for thorough implementation of palliative care.