{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T04:12:37Z","timestamp":1777867957408,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":36,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1777507200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Brain Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Severe brain injuries generate complex, long-term needs requiring intensive physical, cognitive and relational care. These conditions also profoundly affect families, who often experience emotional distress, uncertainty and a heavy caregiving burden. Although neuro-palliative care is increasingly recognised, the early integration of palliative care for this population remains limited. This study aimed to explore healthcare professionals\u2019 perceptions of the palliative care needs of patients with severe brain injuries and their caregivers and to identify factors that hinder or facilitate early palliative care implementation in specialised settings. Methods: An interpretive qualitative study was conducted using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Fifteen semi-structured narrative interviews were carried out with healthcare professionals working in specialised hospital units in Northern Italy. Data were analysed inductively through an iterative and reflexive process following Braun and Clarke\u2019s six phases. Methodological rigour and transparency were ensured using the COREQ checklist. Results: Five themes were identified: (1) intensive, individualised patient care needs with complex communication issues; (2) palliative needs centred on dignity, quality of life and early integrated management; (3) caregivers\u2019 involvement and expectation-related difficulties; (4) continuous or anticipatory grief requiring structured psychological support; (5) facilitators and barriers influencing care pathways. Conclusions: Healthcare professionals identify intertwined and evolving palliative care needs in both patients with severe brain injuries and their families. The findings highlight the perceived importance of early, integrated and multidisciplinary neuro-palliative care models focused on dignity, symptom relief and sustained emotional support.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/brainsci16050482","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T10:47:28Z","timestamp":1777546048000},"page":"482","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Healthcare Professionals\u2019 Perceptions of the Palliative Care Needs of Patients with Severe Brain Injury and Their Caregivers: A Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Flavia","family":"Primosa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Intercompany Department of Health Professions, AUSLPR, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy"},{"name":"Intercompany Department of Health Professions, Local Health Authority of Parma (AUSLPR), 43121 Parma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Serena","family":"Cazzato","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Intercompany Department of Health Professions, AUSLPR, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy"},{"name":"Intercompany Department of Health Professions, Local Health Authority of Parma (AUSLPR), 43121 Parma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lucia","family":"Gotri","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Intercompany Department of Health Professions, AUSLPR, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121 Parma, Italy"},{"name":"Intercompany Department of Health Professions, Local Health Authority of Parma (AUSLPR), 43121 Parma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Romano","family":"Marchini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Intercompany Department of Health Professions, Local Health Authority of Parma (AUSLPR), 43121 Parma, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0276-1925","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Orejeta","family":"Diamanti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Scientific Direction, Veneto Institute of Oncology (IOV), Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS), 35128 Padua, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2172-8055","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Iacorossi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Life, Health Sciences and Health Professions, Link Campus University, 00165 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-3698-1700","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andreina","family":"Saba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Primary Care, Azienda USLIRCCS of Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1585","DOI":"10.1212\/cont.0000000000001636","article-title":"Neuropalliative Care in Severe Acute Brain Injury and Stroke","volume":"31","author":"Creutzfeldt","year":"2025","journal-title":"Contin. 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