End-of-life care in rural general practice: how best to support commitment and meet challenges?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Few studies have specifically assessed the scope, nature and challenges of palliative and end-of-life care in rural general practice. These knowledge gaps limit the development of evidence-based policies and services for patients in the last months of life. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of general practitioners (GPs) and other stakeholders on rural GPs' involvement and challenges in providing palliative and end-of-life care in regional Australia.

Methods

A qualitative study involving five focus groups with 26 GPs based in rural/regional Western Australia together with 15 individual telephone interviews with four GPs and 11 other stakeholders involved in end-of-life care across Australia.

Results

The rural GPs' central role in end-of-life care

SUBMITTER: Ding J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6593492 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature