Background: Palliative care is described as comprehensive care focused on preventing or relieving
physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual suffering in patients with life-threatening
illnesses. As national interest in increasing access to palliative care grows, hospice organizations
may consider expanding their missions to provide palliative care to individuals
with chronic and life-limiting illnesses who do not meet traditional hospice criteria. Before
expanding operations, hospice organizations must know if there is need and support within
the communities they serve.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess perceived need for palliative care services
in a small metropolitan area in the Midwest served by a nonprofit community-based
hospice organization.
Design: A survey approach was used.
Settings/subjects: Surveys were distributed to health care professionals and lay individuals
in the community by mail or in person. A total of 576 surveys were distributed; 195 were completed
and returned.
Results: While the majority of professionals reported being comfortable providing palliative
care, services were not perceived as widely available. Both health care professional and
lay respondents knew someone who could benefit from palliative care services and believed
it would be helpful to develop or increase palliative care for persons with chronic illnesses
who are not yet terminally ill. A majority of professionals reported they were willing to refer
patients for services, but were concerned that patients would be hesitant to accept such
care from a hospice organization. Lay individuals indicated they would be willing to accept
such services, particularly if insurance covered the cost.
Conclusions: Several issues need further exploration before hospice organizations expand
their missions.
