Healthcare professionals' perceptions of managing psychological needs in palliative and end-of-life care: an All-Ireland mixed-methods survey.
9 affiliations
- 1Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin, Ireland. [email protected].
- 2School of Nursing and Midwifery, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL, UK.
- 3Trinity College Dublin, College Green, Dublin, Ireland.
- 4Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Harold's Cross, Dublin, Ireland.
- 5University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland.
- 6Northern Health and Social Care Trust, Antrim Hospital Bush Road, Antrim, BT41 2RL, UK.
- 7All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, Harold's Cross Rd, Harold's Cross, Dublin, Ireland.
- 8Voices4Care, All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, Harold's Cross Rd, Harold's Cross, Dublin, Ireland.
- 9School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Despite recognition in clinical guidelines and quality standards, integration of psychological care into palliative and end-of-life care settings remains inconsistent across and within health systems. Structural, workforce and training challenges persist as key barriers. This study provides the first investigation of healthcare professionals' perspectives on the assessment and support of psychological needs within adult palliative and end-of-life care across the island of Ireland.Methods
A convergent mixed-methods design, with online survey data from 152 healthcare professionals working in palliative and end-of-life care settings across the island of Ireland. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and qualitative data using reflexive thematic analysis.Results
The findings indicate that although psychological support is perceived as foundational to palliative and end-of-life care, this does not appear to be prioritised in relation to workforce development and service delivery. Healthcare professionals report a lack of training opportunities, issues with accessing specialist psychology resource, and time constraints that hinder their ability to assess and address psychological needs effectively.Conclusions
There is an urgent need for investment in psychological care across adult palliative and end-of-life care settings on the island of Ireland. Integration of specialist psychology resource and enhancing training pathways for the broader workforce are essential to implementing effective stepped care models that ensure psychological needs are met.
Related
- Palliative care in chronic heart failure in the Netherlands: practices, competencies and barriers among hospital-based healthcare professionals : From the Working Group of Palliative Care of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology (NVVC).
- Perceptions and utilization of digital health technologies among healthcare professionals in South Korea
- Microarray patches as a potential alternative to injectable fertility medications: a qualitative study of patients’ and healthcare professionals’ perceptions
- Perceptions of Equitable Care and Bias Among Multidisciplinary Healthcare Professionals: A Secondary Analysis of Two Surveys
- Associations of psychological safety and perceptions of organizational environment among healthcare workers: a cross-sectional study in a university hospital
BibTeX
@article{galligan2026healthcare,
title = {{Healthcare professionals' perceptions of managing psychological needs in palliative and end-of-life care: an All-Ireland mixed-methods survey.}},
author = {Niall Galligan and Barry Quinn and Rory Cousins and Deirdre Murphy and Brid McCarthy and Nipuna Thamanam and John Wonnacott and Mary Rabbitte and Fiona Somers and Lisa Graham-Wisener},
journal = {BMC palliative care},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12904-026-02262-2},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928252},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Healthcare professionals' perceptions of managing psychological needs in palliative and end-of-life care: an All-Ireland mixed-methods survey.
AU - Niall Galligan
AU - Barry Quinn
AU - Rory Cousins
AU - Deirdre Murphy
AU - Brid McCarthy
AU - Nipuna Thamanam
AU - John Wonnacott
AU - Mary Rabbitte
AU - Fiona Somers
AU - Lisa Graham-Wisener
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/29
JO - BMC palliative care
DO - 10.1186/s12904-026-02262-2
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42928252
AB - Background Despite recognition in clinical guidelines and quality standards, integration of psychological care into palliative and end-of-life care settings remains inconsistent across and within health systems. Structural, workforce and training challenges persist as key barriers. This study provides the first investigation of healthcare professionals' perspectives on the assessment and support of psychological needs within adult palliative and end-of-life care across the island of Ireland.Methods A convergent mixed-methods design, with online survey data from 152 healthcare professionals working in palliative and end-of-life care settings across the island of Ireland. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and qualitative data using reflexive thematic analysis.Results The findings indicate that although psychological support is perceived as foundational to palliative and end-of-life care, this does not appear to be prioritised in relation to workforce development and service delivery. Healthcare professionals report a lack of training opportunities, issues with accessing specialist psychology resource, and time constraints that hinder their ability to assess and address psychological needs effectively.Conclusions There is an urgent need for investment in psychological care across adult palliative and end-of-life care settings on the island of Ireland. Integration of specialist psychology resource and enhancing training pathways for the broader workforce are essential to implementing effective stepped care models that ensure psychological needs are met.
SN - 1472-684X
ER -