[Complexity of palliative care needs]

The concept of complexity in patients' needs for palliative care (PC) is a key criterion for referral to specialist PC. No single definition of complexity in needs for PC exists, but a literature review found that complexity arises from the interplay between the nature of problems, the stakeholders and contexts involved. Complexity is overall influenced by factors within four domains: patient, social, healthcare professional, and sociocultural. These domains should be considered prior to a patient's referral to specialist PC, as argued in this review.