Table 1 Study characteristics
First author with reference | Year of publication | Country (ISO 3) | Study objectives | Study description | No. of participants | Description of participants | Methodology and analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Beernaert et al. [28] | 2015 | BEL | To explore the views of family physicians, nurses, and patients about the tasks of the family physician in palliative care for people with a life-limiting illness from diagnosis onwards | Focus groups and semi-structured interviews | 50 | 18 interviews with patients 6 focus groups, 4 with FPs (n = 20) and 2 with community nurses (n = 12) | Thematic content analysis |
Cardoso et al. [29] | 2021 | PRT | To understand the perspectives of specialist and trainee family physicians about their role in palliative care | Focus groups | 19 | Two focus groups; one with 10 family physician trainees and one with 9 family physicians | Thematic analysis |
Geiger et al. [30] | 2016 | DEU | To explore the tasks and challenges regarding the care for frail older patients in the last phase of life from the GPs’ point of view, and the latter’s perception of their own role and responsibilities | Semi-structured interviews | 14 | GPs | Grounded Theory |
Herrmann et al. [31] | 2019 | AUS | To explore Australian GPs’ perceptions of barriers and enablers to the provision of palliative care and provides new insights into how to implement best practice care at the end of life | Semi-structured interviews | 25 | GPs | Content analysis |
Herrmann et al. [32] | 2019 | AUS | To explore, in a sample of Australian GPs, their perceptions of best practice palliative care and their ideal role in its delivery | Semi-structured interviews | 25 | GPs | Content analysis |
McCallan et al. [33] | 2021 | CAN | To (1) explore the barriers family physicians encounter in providing palliative and end-of-life care in our metropolitan context and (2) identify potential strategies to overcome these challenges | Interviews | 10 | Family physicians | Thematic analysis |
Mitchell et al. [34] | 2016 | GBR | To provide insight into the experience of GPs providing End-of-Life care in the community, particularly the facilitators and barriers to good-quality care | Questionnaire survey | 516 | GPs | Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis |
Rewegan et al. [35] | 2019 | CAN | To explore how a palliative approach to care is operationalized in primary care, through the description of clinical practices used by primary care clinicians to identify and care for patients with progressive life-limiting illness (PLLI) | Semi-structured interviews | 11 | 6 physicians, 3 nurse practitioners, 1 registered nurse, and 1 registered practical nurse | Content analysis |
Sharp et al. [36] | 2018 | GBR | To investigate the attitudes of GPs to advance care planning discussions with frail and older individuals | Focus groups | 21 | GPs | Framework analysis |
Silveira et al. [37] | 2012 | USA | To explore the factors influencing primary care providers' ability to care for their dying patients in Michigan | Focus groups | 50 | 16 focus groups; twenty-eight primary care providers and twenty-two clinical support staff | Thematic analysis |
Stiel et al. [38] | 2020 | DEU | To explore positive and negative experiences in PC in Germany from the perspectives of patients, relatives, and health care professionals in a primary care setting | Interviews | 16 | Patients, relatives, GPs, medical assistants, and nurses | Critical Incident Technique and thematic analysis |
van Baal et al. [39] | 2020 | DEU | To evaluate the quality of End-of-Life Care from a GP’s perspective using the German version of the General Practice End-of-Life Care Index | Survey and qualitative questions | 52 | GPs | Descriptive statistics and content analysis |