From Hospital to Home: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Optimise Palliative Care Discharge Processes
- Autor(en)
- Matthias Unseld, Timon Wnendt, Christian Sebesta, Jana van Oers, Jonathan Parizek, Lea Kum, Eva Katharina Masel, Pavol Mikula, Hans Jürgen Heppner, Elisabeth Lucia Zeilinger
- Abstrakt
The transition from hospital-based palliative care to home care is a critical phase often marked by logistical, medical, and emotional challenges. Effective discharge planning is essential to ensure continuity of care, yet gaps in communication, interdisciplinary coordination, and access to resources frequently hinder this process. This qualitative study explored key barriers, related support needs, and strategies for optimising palliative care discharge through semi-structured interviews with 28 participants, including healthcare professionals, recently discharged palliative care patients, and primary caregivers. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed five main themes: (1) discharge planning and coordination; (2) symptom management and medication; (3) psychosocial support; (4) communication and information; (5) the role of assistive devices and home care services. Discharge processes were often late or unstructured. Poor interdisciplinary collaboration and a lack of caregiver preparation also contributed to hospital readmissions and emotional distress. By focusing on needs, our analysis identifies not only what was lacking but also what is required to overcome these barriers. Our findings suggest that standardised discharge protocols and checklists, earlier planning, structured communication tools, and improved integration of home care services could enhance patient outcomes and reduce caregiver burden. Addressing psychosocial needs and ensuring timely access to assistive devices are also crucial. Strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration and refining discharge practices can facilitate smoother transitions and improve the quality of palliative care at home.
- Organisation(en)
- Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie
- Externe Organisation(en)
- Medizinische Universität Wien, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
- Journal
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Band
- 22
- ISSN
- 1661-7827
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22071023
- Publikationsdatum
- 06-2025
- Peer-reviewed
- Ja
- ÖFOS 2012
- 302045 Medizinische Psychologie, 302058 Palliativmedizin, 302019 Geriatrie, 303026 Public Health
- Schlagwörter
- ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete
- Pollution, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3 – Gesundheit und Wohlergehen
- Link zum Portal
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/3f912ab6-cac9-4286-a54b-dc1881c3b6f3