Interprofessional Collaboration in Palliative Care for Stroke Patients: A Phenomenological Study from an Indonesian Hospital

Abstract

Stroke patients have complex clinical conditions, thus requiring a palliative care approach to help improve quality of life. Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) in health care services has been recognized as an effective approach to enhance the quality and effectiveness of palliative care. However, palliative care implementation in Indonesia remains limited. Therefore, this study aims to explore the implementation of IPC in the hospital setting for stroke patients receiving palliative care in Indonesia. A qualitative study using a descriptive-phenomenological approach was conducted in November 2025 through in-depth interviews and observations at a hospital in Indonesia. A total of 15 participants were purposively selected, comprising physicians, nurses, nutritionists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and chaplains involved in the care of stroke patients. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, and triangulation was used to enhance the study’s credibility. This study identified 3 main themes, namely: (1) the importance of interprofessional team collaboration in palliative care; (2) integrated communication to support collaboration; (3) leadership as the key factor in the implementation of collaboration. These findings indicate that IPC is a crucial element in ensuring the fulfillment of the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of stroke patients. Health care facilities, particularly hospitals, play an important role in developing and implementing IPC in palliative care for stroke patients in an optimal manner, including providing IPC and leadership training to ensure the sustainability of collaborative practices and improvements in the quality of care and the quality of life of stroke patients.