Integrated primary palliative care model; facilitators and challenges of primary care/family physicians providing community-based palliative care

INTRODUCTION: Patients with advanced cancer often suffer from complex symptoms necessitating constant supervision and management. Primary care/family physicians act as an important bridge between the patients in the community and the specialists in the hospital ensuring continuity of care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present paper explored the facilitators and challenges in providing home-based palliative care as perceived by the primary care/family physicians (PCP/FP). RESULTS: 62 physicians reported that they were involved in palliative management of at least one cancer patient in the previous year. A significant number of GPs (34%) lacked confidence in providing this care because of patient complexity, inadequate training and insufficient resources. Other barriers included poor communication from specialists and treating teams. Factors facilitating provision of home-based palliative care included their willingness to help palliative care patients, their inclination to train in palliative care and enthusiasm to refer to guidelines while caring for patients. CONCLUSION: It is explicit in the paper that resources with respect to information sharing and communication, technical support and training are essential to empower the PCP/FP in providing community-based palliative care.