Facilitators and Barriers in Building Regional Palliative Care Networks for Cancer Care—A Survey of Initiatives and Challenges Among Training Course Completers—

Abstract

Objective: To clarify the status of the development of the regional palliative care networks, including its facilitators and barriers, challenges, and necessary support. Methods: We conducted a survey targeting those who completed the “Regional Palliative Care Coordination Training Workshops”, which was held between 2016 and 2023. Free-text responses were qualitatively analyzed based on the conceptual framework of community intervention research in palliative care programs. The responses were categorized into the aspects of “building open relationship among relevant professionals”, “forming a network”, and “cultivating collaborative community” and “others”, and three phases of introduction, implementation and maintenance. Results: Responses were obtained from 46 individuals (32 facilities). Facilitating factors included, for “building open relationship among relevant professionals,” assignment of discharge support nurses and active involvement of local healthcare providers; for “forming a network”; changes in functions due to hospital integration and consultation with the planning department; for “cultivating collaborative community”, familiarity with web meetings and utilization of existing study sessions. On the other hand, insufficient human resources and differences in systems and structures within the community were indicated as challenges, and the continued implementation of training sessions and collaborative model projects with medical associations were sought as necessary support. Conclusion: The building of regional palliative care networks involves challenges unique to each stage, suggesting the need for corresponding measures and support.