Authors
Ákos Horváth-Karacs, Szilvia Kassai
Published in
Orvosi hetilap. Volume 167. Issue 36. Pages 1429-1435. Sep 06, 2026. Epub Sep 06, 2026.
Abstract
Timely initiation of hospice-palliative care may improve the quality of life of patients with advanced, incurable disease, support family caregivers, and reduce the use of disproportionate hospital care. In Hungary, however, access to care and the organization of patient pathways may face several challenges.
The aim of our study was to explore, based on the experiences of healthcare professionals, which factors hinder the timely initiation of hospice-palliative care in the Hungarian healthcare system.
In this qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 healthcare professionals working in the Southern Great Plain region of Hungary. Participants included physicians and nurses. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Four main themes emerged: healthcare professionals' knowledge and uncertainties regarding hospice-palliative care; access- and capacity-related barriers; the role of patient pathways and information flow; and misconceptions, conceptual uncertainties, and educational needs. Based on the interviews, hospice care is often considered late, and because of its limited accessibility, it does not become a realistic care option in many cases.
The findings suggest that timely initiation is influenced by a combination of organisational, access-related, communicational, and knowledge-related barriers.
Earlier integration of hospice-palliative care requires clearer patient pathways, improved regional access, and targeted education for healthcare professionals. Orv Hetil. 2026; 167(36): 1429-1435.
PMID:
42702007
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 07 Sep 2026.
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