Family Caregivers’ Perspectives on the Potential of Drone-Based Medication Delivery in Palliative Home Care: Qualitative Focus Group Study

These findings reveal logistical gaps in palliative care medication supply and design requirements for drone-based delivery systems. There is a clear demand for faster, more reliable access to essential medication, especially during evenings and weekends. Whether drone-assisted delivery can reduce hospitalizations and support patients' wishes to remain at home warrants further research. Specialized outpatient palliative care teams are central to eHealth adoption, providing technical guidance, emotional support, and confidence in using new technologies. Their involvement in communication and training is critical. Strengthening digital health literacy requires individual training and structural adjustments to meet the needs of older caregivers and those with limited digital affinity. Concerns about losing personal interaction remain significant; digital tools should complement, not replace, face-to-face care. Timely medication access could reduce caregiver stress and improve quality of life by supporting symptom control at home. To foster acceptance, caregivers need hands-on experience. Future studies should test drone delivery in real-world settings, addressing technological, psychological, and social factors.