Family members' experiences in palliative care.

BACKGROUND

Trusting relationships between family members and healthcare professionals are essential in palliative care.

AIMS: The aim was to investigate family members' experiences of healthcare professionals' approach toward them in a specialised palliative home care context.

METHODS

Data from family members of patients in palliative home care were used. This cross-sectional survey study is part of a larger research project focusing on family members' experiences of their encounters with healthcare professionals in different care contexts in Sweden. Descriptive statistics were used to present the characteristics of the sample and study variables. Deductive and inductive analysis of the open-ended questions were performed.

FINDINGS AND

CONCLUSION

The results show that family members had an overall positive experience regarding the approach of healthcare professionals. They reported being met with openness, confirmation and co-operation. Overall, the results contribute important knowledge for clinical care, as well as healthcare education.