Exploring public awareness and perceptions of palliative care: a qualitative study.

Background:Research suggests that the public appear to be confused about the meaning of palliative care. Given the ageing population and associated increase in the number of patients requiring palliative care, it is vital to explore the public’s understanding of this concept. Health-promoting palliative care seeks to translate hospice and palliative care ideals into broader public health practice.Aim:To explore public perceptions of palliative care and identify strategies to raise awareness.Design:An exploratory qualitative approach.Participants:Semi-structured telephone interviews were undertaken (N = 50) with members of the public who volunteered to participate in the study. The interviews focused on knowledge and perceptions of palliative care, expectations of palliative care services and the identification of strategies to raise public awareness of palliative care. The interviews were audio recorded and content analysed.Results:Most participants had a general knowledge of palliative care, largely infl...