Expert Perspectives on Integrating Palliative Care into Primary Health Care: A Qualitative Analysis of a Modified Delphi Study

TL;DR

Experts say integrating palliative care into primary health care requires more than policies and training; it needs strong systems, especially in rural areas.

Contribution

This study provides expert insights into the practical challenges and requirements for integrating palliative care into primary health care systems.

Findings

Integration requires alignment of policy, education, service delivery, and community participation.

Rural areas face significant barriers like limited staff and weak referral systems.

Equity, workforce readiness, and community engagement are critical for successful integration.

Abstract

Background: Integrating palliative care (PC) into primary health care (PHC) is essential for achieving Universal Health Coverage and reducing avoidable suffering. Despite global progress in PC development, the extent to which PC is effectively embedded within PHC systems remains unclear, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Colombia illustrates this gap, with an advanced legal framework but persistent territorial inequities. This study explored how national experts conceptualize PC integration into PHC to inform the development of context-sensitive indicators. Methods: A directed thematic analysis was conducted using qualitative comments from a modified Delphi process (pre-Delphi, Round 1, Round 2). Coding was guided by the WHO model for PC development and the WHO–UNICEF Operational Framework for PHC, combining deductive and inductive approaches to identify recurrent themes. Results: A total of 230 qualitative comments from experts in PC, PHC, and public health were analyzed. Experts described integration as the alignment of policy, education, service delivery, and community participation within PHC structures. They emphasized that laws and training programs alone are insufficient; integration depends on implementation capacity, equitable access, and locally responsive systems. Rural areas were identified as facing the greatest barriers, including limited trained staff, restricted medicine availability, and weak referral pathways. Conclusions: Experts understood PC integration into PHC as a dynamic and ethical process linking system design with human experience. Strengthening equity, workforce preparation, and community engagement is essential to translate policy into practice and to develop meaningful indicators for health system improvement.

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