Identifying top research and clinical practice priorities for palliative care in Nigeria: a nominal group technique

Background Palliative care in Nigeria faces significant challenges due to limited resources, inadequate healthcare provider education, and minimal integration into the national healthcare system. Identifying and prioritizing research and clinical practice areas are essential for improving the quality of palliative care services and ensuring that patients with life-limiting illnesses receive comprehensive care. This study aimed to identify the top research and clinical practice priorities for palliative care in Nigeria, focusing on key areas that require urgent attention. Method A Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was employed to gather insights from a diverse group of stakeholders, including palliative care providers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, students and patients' caregivers. Participants were asked to identify and rank the most critical areas for research and clinical practice in palliative care. The data collected were analyzed qualitatively to extract common themes and priorities, which were then ranked based on their importance and relevance. Results The study identified several key priorities for palliative care in Nigeria, with the top 3 research priorities noted to be mental health and emotional support, healthcare provider education, and pediatric palliative care. The top 3 clinical practice priorities were multidisciplinary care followed by breaking bad news and caregiver well-being which were tied for second place and pain management skills in fourth place. The lack of a cohesive national policy framework and insufficient public awareness were also recognized as significant barriers to effective palliative care delivery. Conclusion These stakeholder-informed priorities for research and clinical practice offer a preliminary agenda for advancing palliative care in Nigeria. Targeted interventions, policy reforms, and multidisciplinary collaboration are needed to overcome existing challenges to translate these priorities to practice. This will work towards ensuring that all Nigerians in need of palliative care receive compassionate and comprehensive care.