Canada Cancer Clinicians' Perceptions of Palliative Care in Pancreatic Cancer: A National Survey

(1) Background: Pancreatic cancer causes significant morbidity and mortality, and guidelines recommend early integration of palliative care alongside active treatment. As access to palliative care is often mediated by oncology clinicians, this survey sought to understand these clinicians' perspectives on barriers and facilitators to clinician palliative care referral and patient palliative care access. (2) Methods: An online survey was distributed via community and academic institutions across Canada to oncology clinicians who were able to refer a pancreatic cancer patient to palliative care (e.g., oncology nurses, medical oncologists). (3) Results: Of 134 clinicians from ten provinces, almost all (97%) believe that palliative care is 'very important' in pancreatic cancer care. The greatest perceived barriers to patient palliative care access included patient-family reluctance to accept palliative care (73%), lack of knowledge about services (50%), and lack of support from other healthcare professionals (40%). Perceived barriers to referring included patient-family reluctance to accept palliative care (57%) and lack of available specialist services (58%). Most providers suggested patient education as a strategy to overcome barriers (85%). (4) Conclusions: Perceptions about public acceptance may preclude oncology clinicians from referring to palliative care, despite nearly universal belief in its importance. The findings highlight service and education gaps for future intervention.