Acceptability of early integration of palliative care in patients with incurable lung cancer

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, and it is known many affected will have significant palliative care needs. Evidence suggests that early involvement of palliative care can translate into improvements in quality of care, quality of life, and survival. However, routine early integration is yet to be embraced as standard of care for the majority of patients, and it is unclear what lung cancer clinicians continue to perceive as the barriers to this model of care. Methods: We performed a qualitative exploration of lung cancer clinicians' perceptions, focusing on current experiences of engaging with palliative care, perceptions of palliative care for patients with..