Bereaved cancer carers’ experience of and preference for palliative care

Introduction The importance of addressing carers’ needs is becoming increasingly recognised. Cancer patients’ carers are identified as a vulnerable population with many unmet informational, emotional and practical needs, particularly during the palliative and end-of-life phases of care. During these phase of illness, patients and carers face the imminence of death and require additional support such as that provided by palliative care services. There is little research on carers’ views regarding optimal timing of palliative care referral and the utility of palliative care services. This study aimed to explore bereaved carers’ experience and understanding of palliative care and their views on optimal timing of first contact.