Patients’ experiences of quality in palliative care and advance care planning in primary care: a qualitative study

Patients in late palliative phase and their experiences of palliative care highlight the need for information and support from healthcare professionals, but the organization of primary healthcare settings does not adequately address these needs. A key aspect of quality in care is comprehensive and individualized follow-up throughout the patient's illness trajectory. Another area that affects the quality of palliative care is the communication skills of healthcare professionals. Care plans for the end- of -life were developed through advance care planning, but the quality of implementation varied in home care. A huge concern for patients in the late palliative phase was if and how their relatives received the support they needed.