Health and social care professionals’ perspective on the interprofessional competencies required in palliative care

Abstract

Competent professionals are essential when delivering patient-centered and individual palliative care to patients and their families. However, interprofessional competencies for health and social care professionals in specialized palliative care have not been defined. The purpose of this study was to describe the competencies required for good interprofessional teamwork in specialized palliative care from the perspective of health and social care professionals. A qualitative descriptive study design was chosen to undertake the face-to-face individual and focus-group interviews. Fifty participants working in specialized palliative care units were recruited through a purposive sampling technique. The data were analyzed using abductive content analysis. The required interprofessional competencies in specialized palliative care were identified as values and ethics for interprofessional practice, roles and responsibilities, interprofessional communication, and teams and teamwork. Professionals should be interprofessionally competent to meet patients’ care needs holistically and individually. Meeting patients and relatives with respect is vital, but respectful behavior and communication among professionals are also highlighted in palliative care. Certain professional qualities, such as patience, humility, and flexibility, were emphasized in interprofessional palliative care. It is important to note that the nature of palliative care affects even experienced professionals, who should be able to face death as a team in everyday work.