This study aimed to explore participant experiences and perspectives of a multidisciplinary conference held after a cancer patient's death in the home setting under planning by the regional palliative care team. The multidisciplinary conferences studied were held in the community following the deaths of three cancer patients who were cared for at home or in nursing homes and supported by a regional palliative care team. We surveyed a total of 56 participants across the three conferences using a questionnaire comprising demographical questions and free description. We asked for impressions of the conference and perspectives regarding palliative care. The survey drew 48 effective responses (response rate, 87.5%). Content analysis of the participants' descriptions extracted the following issues with the multidisciplinary conferences, categorized under either as availability or problems: “mutual understanding through dialogue between multidisciplinary members”, “awareness leading to future practice”, “learning about palliative care”, and “barrier to dialogue between multidisciplinary members”. Highlighted problems surrounding the practice of palliative care with multi-institutional and multidisciplinary members were “conditions for practice in palliative care and care for dying patients” and “multi-institutional and multidisciplinary coordination”. The results indicated that multidisciplinary conferences held with the regional palliative care specialists following a cancer patient's death might be useful to facilitate multidisciplinary coordination and lead to better practice in palliative care in the community.

The aim of this study is to collect the suggestions and recommendations of health care professionals involved in the regional palliative care program (OPTIM-study). A total of 101 multidisciplinary health care professionals who participated in the intervention program were interviewed, and 107 meaningful units were obtained from 89 valid interviews. The responses were categorized into “suggestions regardless of profession” (n=59), including “Participate in a multi-disciplinary conference to expand the network of people”, “Try to understand the situation of others”, “Seek support from others when you cannot solve the problem by yourself”, “Pursue all possibilities before giving up”, and “Do not try too hard”. As suggestions to those engaged in each profession, “Suggestions to community pharmacies” and “Suggestions to care managers” are frequently described. An examination of suggestions by the participants in the regional palliative care program could provide some insights to improve community palliative care.

The purpose of this study was to identify the greatest impact of the regional palliative care program on community health care professionals. Interviews were conducted involving 101 people who became involved in the intervention program implemented in 4 areas across Japan, and 96 valid responses were collected. The following were cited as the greatest impact: [I developed a network of people, and realized the importance of collaboration] (n＝61; “I was able to develop an interpersonal relationship” and “Now I understand the significance of collaboration”), [My knowledge and skills regarding palliative care were improved] (n＝18; “Knowledge and support helped me respond to patients with confidence” and “I have come to think that there is more to palliative care than terminal care”), [I rediscovered my role through a wide variety of experiences] (n＝10), [Both collaboration and palliative knowledge/skills meant a lot to me] (n＝4), [What I experienced in this program will help me play my role] (n＝2), and [Patients and their families became satisfied] (n＝1). The community palliative care program was most effective in facilitating collaboration, and helped participants develop knowledge and skills concerning palliative care.