{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,28]],"date-time":"2026-07-28T08:46:07Z","timestamp":1785228367284,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]],"date-time":"2025-04-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1745539200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nursing Reports"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background\/Objectives: Self-care strategies enhance well-being and facilitate coping with emotional distress, particularly for palliative care professionals dealing with end-of-life issues. This study aimed to explore self-care practices among healthcare professionals working in palliative care settings by analyzing their perceptions and reflections. Methods: A total of 36 palliative care professionals participated in one of four focus group discussions on the topic of self-care. The discussions were transcribed and analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Participants identified several self-care strategies as the most effective and the most frequently used, including lifestyle and emotional coping techniques. The meaning of self-care and its functions were delineated. Participants also identified factors that either facilitate or hinder self-care and discussed its impact on team well-being. Not all participants had received professional self-care training, and some struggled to identify their own strategies. However, participation in the focus group discussions was perceived as beneficial for improving work dynamics, group cohesion, communication, and freedom of expression. Conclusions: The positive feedback from the focus groups suggests that they are a valuable tool for fostering further discussions on self-care. The study recommends increasing the implementation of self-care strategies and professional training to enhance the well-being of palliative care professionals, their teams, and the patients they care for.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nursrep15050139","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]],"date-time":"2025-04-25T06:10:13Z","timestamp":1745561413000},"page":"139","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Self-Care in Palliative Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5728-9907","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Bovero","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU \u201cCitt\u00e0 della Salute e della Scienza\u201d Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Turin, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Federica","family":"Spada","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU \u201cCitt\u00e0 della Salute e della Scienza\u201d Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Turin, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandra Loreta","family":"Cito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU \u201cCitt\u00e0 della Salute e della Scienza\u201d Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Turin, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alexa Victoria","family":"Pidinchedda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU \u201cCitt\u00e0 della Salute e della Scienza\u201d Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Turin, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chiara","family":"Tosi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU \u201cCitt\u00e0 della Salute e della Scienza\u201d Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Turin, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4951-7479","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sara","family":"Carletto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinical Psychology Unit, AOU \u201cCitt\u00e0 della Salute e della Scienza\u201d Hospital, Corso Bramante 88, 10126 Turin, Italy"},{"name":"Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, 10043 Turin, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1097\/NCC.0000000000001075","article-title":"A Systematic Review and Meta-analytic Evaluation of Moral Distress in Oncology Nursing","volume":"46","author":"Eche","year":"2023","journal-title":"Cancer Nurs."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1391","DOI":"10.1177\/1049909120978826","article-title":"Circumstances Related to Moral Distress in Palliative Care: An Integrative Review","volume":"38","author":"Ribeiro","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Hosp. Palliat. Care"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.4103\/ijoem.IJOEM_201_19","article-title":"Self-Care, Burnout, and Compassion Fatigue in Oncology Professionals","volume":"24","author":"Kohli","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian J. Occup. Environ. Med."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1080\/15524250802353934","article-title":"A Study of the Relationship Between Self-care, Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout Among Hospice Professionals","volume":"4","author":"Alkema","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Soc. Work End Life Palliat. Care"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"172","DOI":"10.1177\/0269216311431311","article-title":"Understanding Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout: A Survey of the Hospice Palliative Care Workforce","volume":"27","author":"Hemsworth","year":"2013","journal-title":"Palliat. Med."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"G\u00f3mez-Urquiza, J.L., Albend\u00edn-Garc\u00eda, L., Velando-Soriano, A., Ortega-Campos, E., Ram\u00edrez-Baena, L., Membrive-Jim\u00e9nez, M.J., and Suleiman-Martos, N. (2020). Burnout in Palliative Care Nurses, Prevalence and Risk Factors: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 17.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17207672"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1177\/0269216320956825","article-title":"Prevalence of Burnout in Healthcare Professionals Providing Palliative Care and the Effect of Interventions to Reduce Symptoms: A Systematic Literature Review","volume":"35","author":"Dijxhoorn","year":"2021","journal-title":"Palliat. Med."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"49","DOI":"10.1017\/S1478951521001887","article-title":"The Burden in Palliative Care Assistance: A Comparison of Psychosocial Risks and Burnout Between Inpatient Hospice and Home Care Services Workers","volume":"21","author":"Fattori","year":"2023","journal-title":"Palliat. Support Care"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"522","article-title":"Burnout in Oncology","volume":"33","author":"Copur","year":"2019","journal-title":"Oncology"},{"key":"ref_10","unstructured":"Commissione Psicologi SICP (2016). Gli Interventi Psicologici a Sostegno Dell\u2019\u00e9quipe di Cure Palliative, Societ\u00e0 Italiana di Cure Palliative."},{"key":"ref_11","unstructured":"Oakley, B., Knafo, A., and Madhavan, G. (2012). Empathic Distress Fatigue Rather Than Compassion Fatigue? Integrating Findings from Empathy Research in Psychology and Social Neuroscience. Pathological Altruism, Oxford University Press."},{"key":"ref_12","unstructured":"World Health Organization (WHO) (2002). National Cancer Control Programmes. Policies and Managerial Guidelines, WHO. [2nd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"484","DOI":"10.12968\/bjon.2021.30.8.484","article-title":"Psychological Challenges for Nurses Working in Palliative Care and Recommendations for Self-Care","volume":"30","author":"Hussain","year":"2021","journal-title":"Br. J. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_14","first-page":"1","article-title":"Non C\u2019\u00e8 Cura Dei Pazienti Senza Cura Degli Operatori: Conoscere e Contrastare Moral Distress e Burnout Fra Prevenzione e Interventi Strutturali","volume":"23","author":"Villa","year":"2022","journal-title":"Politiche Sanit."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"605","DOI":"10.1111\/bjhp.12565","article-title":"The Experiences of Palliative Care Professionals and Their Responses to Work-related Stress: A Qualitative Study","volume":"27","author":"Fisher","year":"2022","journal-title":"Br. J. Health Psychol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"161","DOI":"10.1177\/0269216315583434","article-title":"The Transformation Process for Palliative Care Professionals: The Metamorphosis, A Qualitative Research Study","volume":"30","year":"2016","journal-title":"Palliat. Med."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Orem, D.E. (1985). Nursing: Concepts of Practice, McGraw-Hill Book Company. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"107","DOI":"10.1080\/10911359.2018.1482483","article-title":"Six Domains of Self-Care: Attending to the Whole Person","volume":"29","author":"Butler","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Hum. Behav. Soc. Environ."},{"key":"ref_19","first-page":"418","article-title":"Self-Care: A Concept Analysis","volume":"8","author":"Connelly","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. J. Nurs. Sci."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"573","DOI":"10.1370\/afm.1713","article-title":"From Triple to Quadruple Aim: Care of the Patient Requires Care of the Provider","volume":"12","author":"Bodenheimer","year":"2014","journal-title":"Ann. Fam. Med."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"28971","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-022-03958-3","article-title":"Using Latent Profile Analysis to Understand Palliative Care Professionals\u2019 Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic","volume":"42","author":"Galiana","year":"2023","journal-title":"Curr. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cuartero-Casta\u00f1er, M.E., Hidalgo-Andrade, P., and Ca\u00f1as-Lerma, A.J. (2021). Professional Quality of Life, Engagement, and Self-Care in Healthcare Professionals in Ecuador During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/healthcare9050515"},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"625","DOI":"10.1089\/jpm.2016.0470","article-title":"Self-Care in Palliative Care Nursing and Medical Professionals: A Cross-Sectional Survey","volume":"20","author":"Mills","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Palliat. Med."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mills, J., Wand, T., and Fraser, J.A. (2018). Exploring the Meaning and Practice of Self-Care Among Palliative Care Nurses and Doctors: A Qualitative Study. BMC Palliat. Care, 17.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904-018-0318-0"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"E67","DOI":"10.1017\/SJP.2015.71","article-title":"Validation of a New Instrument for Self-Care in Spanish Palliative Care Professionals Nationwide","volume":"18","author":"Galiana","year":"2015","journal-title":"Span. J. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"200","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jpainsymman.2015.02.013","article-title":"Palliative Care Professionals\u2019 Inner Life: Exploring the Relationships Among Awareness, Self-Care, and Compassion Satisfaction and Fatigue, Burnout, and Coping With Death","volume":"50","author":"Galiana","year":"2015","journal-title":"J. Pain Symptom Manage."},{"key":"ref_27","first-page":"189","article-title":"Psychological Well-Being: Reflections on an Elusive Construct and Its Assessment","volume":"39","author":"Mehrotra","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Indian Acad. Appl. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.25259\/IJPC_115_21","article-title":"Psychological Well-Being Amongst Cancer Palliative Care Professionals Working in Bengaluru, India","volume":"28","author":"Kaur","year":"2022","journal-title":"Indian J. Palliat. Care"},{"key":"ref_29","unstructured":"Krueger, R.A., and Casey, M.A. (2000). Focus Groups: A Practical Guide for Applied Research, Sage Publications, Inc.. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Newcomer, K.E., Hatry, H.P., and Wholey, J.S. (2015). Focus Group Interviewing. Handbook of Practical Program Evaluation, John Wiley & Sons. [4th ed.].","DOI":"10.1002\/9781119171386"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103436","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijnurstu.2019.103436","article-title":"Needing permission: The experience of self-care and self-compassion in nursing: A constructivist grounded theory study","volume":"101","author":"Andrews","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int. J. Nurs. Stud."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nedt.2017.06.002","article-title":"Methodological challenges in qualitative content analysis: A discussion paper","volume":"56","author":"Graneheim","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nurse Educ. Today"},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Gruppo Psicologi SICP (2016). Documento di Consenso e Compendio: Appropriatezza dei Termini Psicologici e Relazionali in Cure Palliative, Societ\u00e0 Italiana di Cure Palliative."},{"key":"ref_34","unstructured":"Gruppo Psicologi SICP (2016). Supervisione. Documento di Consenso e Compendio: Appropriatezza dei Termini Psicologici e Relazionali in Cure Palliative, Societ\u00e0 Italiana di Cure Palliative."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Buonaccorso, L., Tanzi, S., Sacchi, S., Alquati, S., Bertocchi, E., Autelitano, C., Taberna, E., and Martucci, G. (2022). Self-Care as a Method to Cope With Suffering and Death: A Participatory Action-Research Aimed at Quality Improvement. Front. Psychol., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2022.769702"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1097\/NJH.0000000000000349","article-title":"Effects of a Technology-Assisted Meditation Program on Healthcare Providers\u2019 Interoceptive Awareness, Compassion Fatigue, and Burnout","volume":"19","author":"Heeter","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Hosp. Palliat. Nurs."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"380","DOI":"10.1188\/18.ONF.380-388","article-title":"Hospice and Palliative Care Provider Experiences With Meditation Using Mobile Applications","volume":"45","author":"Lehto","year":"2018","journal-title":"Oncol. Nurs. Forum"},{"key":"ref_38","first-page":"81","article-title":"Evaluaci\u00f3n de una Intervenci\u00f3n Mindfulness en Equipos de Cuidados Paliativos","volume":"27","author":"Galiana","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychosoc. Interv."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"89","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcbs.2016.04.003","article-title":"A Pilot Test of a Mindfulness-Based Communication Training to Enhance Resilience in Palliative Care Professionals","volume":"5","author":"Gerhart","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Context. Behav. Sci."},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Orellana-Rios, C.L., Radbruch, L., Kern, M., Regel, Y.U., Anton, A., Sinclair, S., and Schmidt, S. (2018). Mindfulness and Compassion-Oriented Practices at Work Reduce Distress and Enhance Self-Care of Palliative Care Teams: A Mixed-Method Evaluation of an \u201cOn the Job\u201d Program. BMC Palliat. Care, 17, Erratum in: BMC Palliat. Care 2017, 16, 51.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904-017-0219-7"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lautwein, F., Schallenburger, M., Scherg, A., Schlieper, D., Karger, A., Regel, Y.U., Schwartz, J., and Neukirchen, M. (2023). Mindfulness and Compassion Training on Daily Work with Patients and within the Multiprofessional Palliative Care Team: A Retrospective Self-Assessment Study. BMC Palliat. Care, 22.","DOI":"10.1186\/s12904-023-01158-9"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ho, A.H.Y., Tan-Ho, G., Ngo, T.A., Ong, G., Chong, P.H., Dignadice, D., and Potash, J. (2021). A Novel Mindful-Compassion Art-Based Therapy for Reducing Burnout and Promoting Resilience Among Healthcare Workers: Findings From a Waitlist Randomized Control Trial. Front. Psychol., 12.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.744443"},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"34","DOI":"10.1089\/pmr.2020.0079","article-title":"Insight and Inner Peace in Palliative Care Professionals after an Art Therapy Workshop Focused on Personal Self-Care: A Preliminary Experience","volume":"2","author":"Arantzamendi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Palliat. Med. Rep."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"260","DOI":"10.1080\/09699260.2020.1734380","article-title":"Reflections on the Integration of a Narrative Medicine and Mindfulness Program in Hospice and Palliative Care","volume":"28","author":"Essary","year":"2020","journal-title":"Prog. Palliat. Care"},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Cosentino, C., D\u2019apice, C., Del Gaudio, M., Bertoletti, C., Bini, M., Liotti, M.C., Melli, E., Tesa, F., Sarli, L., and Artioli, G. (2021). Effectiveness of Expressive Writing Protocol in Palliative Care Healthworkers: A Quantitative Study. Acta Biomed., 92."},{"key":"ref_46","first-page":"53","article-title":"The Impact of Balint Work on Alexithymia, Perceived Stress, Perceived Social Support, and Burnout Among Physicians Working in Palliative Care: A Longitudinal Study","volume":"32","author":"Trutescu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Occup. Med. Environ. Health"}],"container-title":["Nursing Reports"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/15\/5\/139\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T17:21:22Z","timestamp":1760030482000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2039-4403\/15\/5\/139"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]]},"references-count":46,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5]]}},"alternative-id":["nursrep15050139"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/nursrep15050139","relation":{},"ISSN":["2039-4403"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2039-4403","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,4,25]]}}}