Palliative Care Communication

Patients and families valued honesty, empathy, confidence, listening, clear explanation of options, and recognition of the expertise of family carers. Patients and carers were more positive when out-of-hours professionals reassured them that they had done the right thing by calling. Only one included paper had a stated aim specifically focused on communication during out-of-hours contacts for people with terminal illness. Palliative care requires time, listening, sensitive discussion, awareness of prior conversations, and knowledge of patient preferences. Professionals felt pressure to move quickly due to waiting calls, making sensitive communication and emotional investment harder. Poor communication has previously been identified as a contributor to out-of-hours hospital admissions near the end of life.