Background
Primary care providers face challenges when caring for palliative care patients and their
informal caregivers. Many primary care providers have limited understanding and comfort in
providing palliative care. The situation is even more complex in rural areas, where access to
resources is often challenging. A primary care providers lack of experience can result in
inconsistent and inefficient approaches to care.
Method
This integrative review examines research from CINAHL on palliative care as it affects
informal caregivers and their experiences. It focuses on the actions of Primary Care Providers
(PCPs) and how their interventions impact informal caregivers. CASP checklists and thematic
analysis were used to critically analyze and organize the results.
Results
The reviewed studies revealed four themes: support, communication and coordination,
post-discharge transition, and holistic, person-centred care. The findings suggested that palliative
care does not always need to be interventional but can serve as essential supportive care.
Conclusion
The findings of this review highlight the need for a collaborative team approach in
palliative care, which goes beyond the provider-patient dyad. Integrating this approach into
palliative care plans can improve care for individuals during palliative care.
