Recent literature has suggested that earlier referral to palliative care can improve quality of life and prognosis. The decision to refer to palliative care is a complex process that can involve an interplay of interpersonal, subjective and institutional factors. Negotiating this referral process can be challenging to a medical specialist from a professional and personal viewpoint. What remains unknown is what actually influences the individual clinician to refer a patient to palliative care.
Keywords: medical specialist; oncology; palliative care; referral practice.
© 2012 The Authors. Internal Medicine Journal © 2012 Royal Australasian College of Physicians.