Primary Care Nurses’ Experiences With Using the Acute Basic Palliation Concept: A Qualitative Study

Many acutely hospitalized patients wish to spend their final days at home, but primary care nurses often face barriers such as unclear discharge planning, limited medication access, and inadequate communication across care sectors, compromising continuity of care. To address these challenges, the Acute Basic Palliation Concept was developed to enable patients to return home safely and strengthen nurses' ability to provide quality terminal care in home settings. This study explored nurses' experiences with using the concept and its influence on home-based terminal care. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with nurses who had applied the concept, which included a discharge checklist, a medical supply package, nursing guidelines, a medication decision tool, and informational materials for patients and relatives. Data were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis. Three key themes were identified: Streamlining Workflows, enabling nurses to focus on patient-centered care; Effective and Timely Symptom Relief, supporting prompt symptom management; and Enhanced Communication and Information Flow, improving collaboration across care sectors and reducing stress for patients and relatives. Findings suggest the concept may support nurses in delivering more coordinated, person-centered terminal care at home by proactively addressing common barriers. However, further education in palliative symptom management may be needed to optimize its use.