Experience of multidisciplinary medical teams on humanistic palliative care in oncology wards: a descriptive qualitative study in Southern China
The International Agency for Research on Cancer indicated 19.3 million new cases of cancer and nearly 10 million cancer deaths occurred in 2020 worldwide. Cancer accounts for nearly 50% of new medical cases and 58.3% of deaths in Asia. Globally, China has the highest number of new cancer cases and deaths, and the cancer burden is increasing. Palliative care is a philosophy of care aimed at enhancing the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses and their families. The 2017 National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines on palliative care strongly emphasise the early integration of palliative care into overall oncology treatment. Quality palliative care should encompass comprehensive support for patients and their families across physical, mental, spiritual and societal dimensions throughout the course of the illness. Given the significant emotional, financial and physical strain experienced by patients with cancer, there is an increasing need for comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of suffering, something that can be provided by a multidisciplinary palliative care team. Research has demonstrated that a multidisciplinary palliative care is both safe and effective, promoting quality palliative care. According to Watson and Smith’s theory of humanistic care, asserting that human caring is an essential component of nursing. According to Leininger, human caring in nursing involves providing care tailored to the individual or group needs of patients and families based on their unique cultural background. Culture profoundly shapes how patients and families approach serious illnesses and death and dying. In addition, spiritual needs are often reinforced near the end of life. Hence, palliative care should focus on being more humanistic. Integral to palliative care, human caring should be consistently integrated, necessitating the provision of care and treatment aligned with the goals and values of the patient or their families. Implementing humanistic palliative care for oncology patients can lead to positive psychological and life emotions and further improve their quality of life. Hence, surpassing nursing procedures and integrating humanistic principles is essential, using modern nursing knowledge and technology to ensure genuinely person-centred and humanistic care at every stage of nursing practice. Patients perceive professional care when healthcare providers demonstrate positive attitudes, effective communication and establish good relationships. In the traditional Chinese culture influenced by Confucianism, the role of the family is emphasised when individuals face health issues, with the belief that the family serves as a vital lifeline for expressing care and providing protection and support. Traditional views on life and death have an impact on patients’ acceptance of palliative care, decisions regarding end-of-life medical interventions and expression of personal care needs. There exists a strong emotional bond between terminally ill patients and their families. Patients often refrain from burdening their families with the responsibilities related to their care and funeral arrangements and are not accustomed to directly expressing their pain and needs for end-of-life treatment to their family members, thus frequently concealing their true needs and desires. Simultaneously, the love for their families compels them to carefully consider treatment options in terms of the overall interests of the family and the personal responsibilities within the family when facing death. Literature cites that while providing palliative care, healthcare workers need to continually enhance their understanding of culture in order to comprehend the thoughts and behaviours of patients and their families within specific cultural contexts. Acknowledging and respecting the cultural characteristics of patients is a prerequisite for the localisation of palliative care practice. Given the unique cultural context in China, comprehending the experiences of multidisciplinary teamwork in implementing humanistic care for patients with cancer may have varied implications for healthcare professionals. While various studies have delved into nurses’ attitudes and behaviours in caring for oncology patients, few qualitative enquiries have explored the experiences of multidisciplinary teams collaborating to provide care for such patients and implement humanistic care. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the humanistic experiences of palliative care provision among medical staff in oncology wards. This could be one way to evaluating the clinical implementation of humanistic palliative care and identifying relevant facilitators and barriers to promotion and implementation of palliative care.   Design and setting Using a phenomenological research design within the framework of qualitative research, this study aims to investigate the meaning individuals attribute to their experiences of events, providing a clearer understanding of the humanistic palliative care. The study was conducted at a 1717-bed capacity hospital in Southern China, which provides medical, surgical, radiologic, biological and palliative care services to patients from all parts of mainland China. An expert group comprising three nursing methodology professors, a director of the hospital nursing department and three chief nurses was formed to conduct a feasibility study and quality control analysis regarding the topic selection, study design and finding potential problems in this draft study as well as offer suggestions for revisions. Participants and selection criteria The study was conducted from September 2022 to November 2022 in the oncology department, involving a total of 4 doctors, 12 nurses and 2 medical social workers. Representative participants were recruited using purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods, based on the criteria such as title, years of experience, age and different positions. Participants were invited face to face and provided an information sheet containing details of the study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) certified and valid registered doctors, nurses and medical social workers; (b) a formal labour relationship with the employing unit, (c) more than 1 year of experience working in an oncology ward and (d) voluntary consent. Those who had quit their position for over 3 months and held non-clinical positions (eg, management positions and the logistics department) were excluded. Data collection The preinterview outline was drawn based on a literature review and consultation with experts. The final interview outline was determined after a preinterview session with two nurses to ensure that they were comprehensible and feasible. The semistructured interviews included four main questions (see for details) (see ). 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074628.supp1 Supplementary data The researcher (ML) contacted the participants to schedule the interview. All interviews were conducted in the department conference room. Two members of the research team with advanced training in qualitative interviewing (ML and JL) conducted the interviews. At the beginning of each interview, the researcher (ML) introduced herself and explained the research objectives, ethical considerations and time requirements to each participant. Written informed consent was obtained before the interview. The average duration of each interview was 46 min (range 35–57 min), and all sessions were audiorecorded. The interview style was semistructured to cover predefined topics and shape the exchanges according to the interviewees’ roles, experiences and responses. All the transcripts are analysed together and simultaneously as data collection continues until data saturation, a point where no new emergent themes are observed. The recruitment process ceased when theoretical data saturation was reached, meaning that no new information relating to the participants’ perception of humanistic care was observed in the transcripts. Data analysis Within 24 hours after each interview, we generated verbatim transcripts through repeated listening and subsequently returned them to the participants for review. All texts were then imported into NVivo V.12.0 for management and analysis. Data analysis was conducted using the Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method. Two researchers (ML and JX) independently read all interview materials carefully to form a preliminary understanding of the transcripts. Statements that aligned with the research questions and held significance were excerpted. ML and JX independently summarised and distilled meaningful statements, applied coding, consolidated coded perspectives, combined codes with similar meanings into subcategories and grouped similar subcategories together. Through further abstraction, subcategories were summarised into three main themes. Three researchers (ML, JL and JX) collectively reviewed the themes, providing a detailed narrative linking the themes to the research subjects. The final analysis results were then returned to the research participants to verify the authenticity of the content. The research findings have been reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research. Rigour All researchers had learnt about qualitative research methods and interview techniques before the study began. The primary researcher (ML) conducted the interviews, while the secondary researcher (JL) observed the participants’ facial expressions and posed additional questions to ensure comprehensive data collection. To validate the data, a third researcher (JX) independently analysed the same dataset as the primary researcher and compared their findings. Any disparities were meticulously addressed through in-depth analysis and discussions involving all three researchers to ensure data reliability. Subsequently, the final analysis results have been presented to all research participants to validate the authenticity of the content. We interviewed the participants and analysed the data using Chinese in their mother tongue. In reporting the results, the participants’ words were translated into English. It was confirmed that all methods were conducted according to the relevant guidelines and regulations. Patient and public involvement The patients did not participate in the study and we did not collect data related to the patients.   Using a phenomenological research design within the framework of qualitative research, this study aims to investigate the meaning individuals attribute to their experiences of events, providing a clearer understanding of the humanistic palliative care. The study was conducted at a 1717-bed capacity hospital in Southern China, which provides medical, surgical, radiologic, biological and palliative care services to patients from all parts of mainland China. An expert group comprising three nursing methodology professors, a director of the hospital nursing department and three chief nurses was formed to conduct a feasibility study and quality control analysis regarding the topic selection, study design and finding potential problems in this draft study as well as offer suggestions for revisions.   The study was conducted from September 2022 to November 2022 in the oncology department, involving a total of 4 doctors, 12 nurses and 2 medical social workers. Representative participants were recruited using purposive sampling and snowball sampling methods, based on the criteria such as title, years of experience, age and different positions. Participants were invited face to face and provided an information sheet containing details of the study. The inclusion criteria were as follows: (a) certified and valid registered doctors, nurses and medical social workers; (b) a formal labour relationship with the employing unit, (c) more than 1 year of experience working in an oncology ward and (d) voluntary consent. Those who had quit their position for over 3 months and held non-clinical positions (eg, management positions and the logistics department) were excluded.   The preinterview outline was drawn based on a literature review and consultation with experts. The final interview outline was determined after a preinterview session with two nurses to ensure that they were comprehensible and feasible. The semistructured interviews included four main questions (see for details) (see ). 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074628.supp1 Supplementary data The researcher (ML) contacted the participants to schedule the interview. All interviews were conducted in the department conference room. Two members of the research team with advanced training in qualitative interviewing (ML and JL) conducted the interviews. At the beginning of each interview, the researcher (ML) introduced herself and explained the research objectives, ethical considerations and time requirements to each participant. Written informed consent was obtained before the interview. The average duration of each interview was 46 min (range 35–57 min), and all sessions were audiorecorded. The interview style was semistructured to cover predefined topics and shape the exchanges according to the interviewees’ roles, experiences and responses. All the transcripts are analysed together and simultaneously as data collection continues until data saturation, a point where no new emergent themes are observed. The recruitment process ceased when theoretical data saturation was reached, meaning that no new information relating to the participants’ perception of humanistic care was observed in the transcripts.   Within 24 hours after each interview, we generated verbatim transcripts through repeated listening and subsequently returned them to the participants for review. All texts were then imported into NVivo V.12.0 for management and analysis. Data analysis was conducted using the Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method. Two researchers (ML and JX) independently read all interview materials carefully to form a preliminary understanding of the transcripts. Statements that aligned with the research questions and held significance were excerpted. ML and JX independently summarised and distilled meaningful statements, applied coding, consolidated coded perspectives, combined codes with similar meanings into subcategories and grouped similar subcategories together. Through further abstraction, subcategories were summarised into three main themes. Three researchers (ML, JL and JX) collectively reviewed the themes, providing a detailed narrative linking the themes to the research subjects. The final analysis results were then returned to the research participants to verify the authenticity of the content. The research findings have been reported in accordance with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.   All researchers had learnt about qualitative research methods and interview techniques before the study began. The primary researcher (ML) conducted the interviews, while the secondary researcher (JL) observed the participants’ facial expressions and posed additional questions to ensure comprehensive data collection. To validate the data, a third researcher (JX) independently analysed the same dataset as the primary researcher and compared their findings. Any disparities were meticulously addressed through in-depth analysis and discussions involving all three researchers to ensure data reliability. Subsequently, the final analysis results have been presented to all research participants to validate the authenticity of the content. We interviewed the participants and analysed the data using Chinese in their mother tongue. In reporting the results, the participants’ words were translated into English. It was confirmed that all methods were conducted according to the relevant guidelines and regulations.   The patients did not participate in the study and we did not collect data related to the patients.   A total of 18 medical staff were interviewed, including 4 doctors, 12 nurses and 2 medical social workers. All the participants provided written informed consent and volunteered to participate in this study. The participants’ mean age was 30.78 years (SD=4.82); the youngest participant was 24 years old and the oldest participant was 41 years old. The mean number of years of clinical experience of the participants was 6.94 years (SD=4.30), the longest duration being 14 years and the shortest being 2 years. Our study yielded three main themes: (1) conceptual change, (2) concrete action and (3) facilitators and barriers to the implementation of humanistic palliative care (see for details). 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-074628.supp2 Supplementary data Theme 1: conceptual change This theme reflects the views of multidisciplinary team members on humanistic palliative care. It includes four subcategories: focusing on demand, calling for cooperation and promotion of early intervention and individualised care, as well as promotion of patient autonomy. Focusing on demand All participants noted the importance of humanistic care for patients. They emphasised paying attention to the patient’s emotional changes and providing support in psychological aspects. The needs of caregivers were also mentioned. N9: We pay more attention to psychological changes in the patient. We detect mood changes and then explore the underlying causes. N2: The first is symptom control, the second is psychological care. The third is support for his primary caregiver. Calling for cooperation Participants emphasised that implementing humanistic palliative treatment for patients with cancer requires effective interdisciplinary collaboration. The inclusion of medical social workers and psychiatrists is also considered important. C1: It’s not just about healthcare professionals, it takes a lot of different people to get involved. N4: Humanistic palliative care requires collaboration, but we do not have a complete system for communication and coordination. N2:…Psychiatrists and medical social workers should be included in the multidisciplinary team. Promotion of early intervention and personalised care Participants perceived that early intervention and personalised humanistic palliative care are crucial for patients with cancer. They discussed the importance of covering the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and matching their individual health needs. A2: If you intervene from the beginning, trust is built gradually and they will express a lot to you. C1: Match the patient’s individual needs with routine care to make the patient feel valued. N4: I think it is crucial to provide holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient, to promote a sense of peace and comfort for them as they approach the end of life. Promotion of patient autonomy All participants agreed that patients’ wishes should be fully respected, and they should be appropriately informed about their condition. They emphasised the importance of doctors discussing prognosis and decision-making with patients. N8: The fact is that they should talk openly and let patients know about their condition. Everyone has the right to choose their future course of action. A1: I think we should tell patients in advance. They need to be prepared. Theme 2: concrete action This category expresses the conscious behavioural manifestations of multidisciplinary medical staff in the implementation of humanistic care in palliative, comprising the following two subcategories: (1) creating a caring atmosphere and (2) establishing beneficial doctor–patient interactions. Creating a caring atmosphere Participants underscored the significance of creating a supportive environment as a fundamental component. The interviews underscored that the nurturing atmosphere serves not only as a precondition for physical comfort but also as the bedrock for psychological solace and trust. N5: I think there is a need to provide a more private environment to make them feel warm. C1: We need to utilize various mediums to create an atmosphere of care, trust, and open dialogue, providing opportunities for meaningful conversations. Establishing beneficial doctor–patient interactions Participants emphasised the importance of establishing positive interaction between medical staff and patients. They also highlighted the necessity for medical personnel to promptly address patient needs and authentically engage with patients, thereby fostering mutual trust. A3: I think it’s important to get to know your patients thoroughly, to address their questions and problems, and to make them trust you. N3: Indeed, action and expression can be seen as part of humanistic care. Theme 3: facilitators and barriers to the implementation of humanistic palliative care This category encompasses the findings from interviews, highlighting both the facilitating factors and obstacles within humanistic palliative care. Three subthemes were distilled: (1) healthcare system factors, (2) patient-related factors and (3) healthcare personnel-related factors. Healthcare system factors Participants highlighted the costs associated with creating and maintaining a caring environment. Additionally, they mentioned that many patients and their families face economic difficulties, making it challenging to access medical services. N6: The department covers expenses for items like sofas and vases in the palliative care ward, which is a significant cost… N4: The fees for the palliative care ward are high, and many ordinary families cannot afford it… Patient-related factors Participants mentioned that resistance stemming from cultural and belief differences among patients and their families, coupled with a lack of awareness, hindered the initiation of discussions regarding the implementation of palliative care. Many participants shared experiences of unsuccessful implementation due to these obstacles. C2: Death seems to be a taboo subject in our department. N9: It’s hard to talk to them about life and death. They are very resistant. Healthcare personnel-related factors Some participants expressed a willingness to engage more actively in caregiving and wished for additional time to fulfil this role. Simultaneously, participants recognised the importance of acquiring specific knowledge and skills for the effective implementation of humanistic palliative care practices. N5: Actually, we all want to do things right, but it’s too busy for us to do it. N4: It would be better if there was professional training about this. N1: I need knowledge about it to be able to do it.   This theme reflects the views of multidisciplinary team members on humanistic palliative care. It includes four subcategories: focusing on demand, calling for cooperation and promotion of early intervention and individualised care, as well as promotion of patient autonomy. Focusing on demand All participants noted the importance of humanistic care for patients. They emphasised paying attention to the patient’s emotional changes and providing support in psychological aspects. The needs of caregivers were also mentioned. N9: We pay more attention to psychological changes in the patient. We detect mood changes and then explore the underlying causes. N2: The first is symptom control, the second is psychological care. The third is support for his primary caregiver. Calling for cooperation Participants emphasised that implementing humanistic palliative treatment for patients with cancer requires effective interdisciplinary collaboration. The inclusion of medical social workers and psychiatrists is also considered important. C1: It’s not just about healthcare professionals, it takes a lot of different people to get involved. N4: Humanistic palliative care requires collaboration, but we do not have a complete system for communication and coordination. N2:…Psychiatrists and medical social workers should be included in the multidisciplinary team. Promotion of early intervention and personalised care Participants perceived that early intervention and personalised humanistic palliative care are crucial for patients with cancer. They discussed the importance of covering the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and matching their individual health needs. A2: If you intervene from the beginning, trust is built gradually and they will express a lot to you. C1: Match the patient’s individual needs with routine care to make the patient feel valued. N4: I think it is crucial to provide holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient, to promote a sense of peace and comfort for them as they approach the end of life. Promotion of patient autonomy All participants agreed that patients’ wishes should be fully respected, and they should be appropriately informed about their condition. They emphasised the importance of doctors discussing prognosis and decision-making with patients. N8: The fact is that they should talk openly and let patients know about their condition. Everyone has the right to choose their future course of action. A1: I think we should tell patients in advance. They need to be prepared.   All participants noted the importance of humanistic care for patients. They emphasised paying attention to the patient’s emotional changes and providing support in psychological aspects. The needs of caregivers were also mentioned. N9: We pay more attention to psychological changes in the patient. We detect mood changes and then explore the underlying causes. N2: The first is symptom control, the second is psychological care. The third is support for his primary caregiver.   Participants emphasised that implementing humanistic palliative treatment for patients with cancer requires effective interdisciplinary collaboration. The inclusion of medical social workers and psychiatrists is also considered important. C1: It’s not just about healthcare professionals, it takes a lot of different people to get involved. N4: Humanistic palliative care requires collaboration, but we do not have a complete system for communication and coordination. N2:…Psychiatrists and medical social workers should be included in the multidisciplinary team.   Participants perceived that early intervention and personalised humanistic palliative care are crucial for patients with cancer. They discussed the importance of covering the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients and matching their individual health needs. A2: If you intervene from the beginning, trust is built gradually and they will express a lot to you. C1: Match the patient’s individual needs with routine care to make the patient feel valued. N4: I think it is crucial to provide holistic care that addresses the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the patient, to promote a sense of peace and comfort for them as they approach the end of life.   All participants agreed that patients’ wishes should be fully respected, and they should be appropriately informed about their condition. They emphasised the importance of doctors discussing prognosis and decision-making with patients. N8: The fact is that they should talk openly and let patients know about their condition. Everyone has the right to choose their future course of action. A1: I think we should tell patients in advance. They need to be prepared.   This category expresses the conscious behavioural manifestations of multidisciplinary medical staff in the implementation of humanistic care in palliative, comprising the following two subcategories: (1) creating a caring atmosphere and (2) establishing beneficial doctor–patient interactions. Creating a caring atmosphere Participants underscored the significance of creating a supportive environment as a fundamental component. The interviews underscored that the nurturing atmosphere serves not only as a precondition for physical comfort but also as the bedrock for psychological solace and trust. N5: I think there is a need to provide a more private environment to make them feel warm. C1: We need to utilize various mediums to create an atmosphere of care, trust, and open dialogue, providing opportunities for meaningful conversations. Establishing beneficial doctor–patient interactions Participants emphasised the importance of establishing positive interaction between medical staff and patients. They also highlighted the necessity for medical personnel to promptly address patient needs and authentically engage with patients, thereby fostering mutual trust. A3: I think it’s important to get to know your patients thoroughly, to address their questions and problems, and to make them trust you. N3: Indeed, action and expression can be seen as part of humanistic care.   Participants underscored the significance of creating a supportive environment as a fundamental component. The interviews underscored that the nurturing atmosphere serves not only as a precondition for physical comfort but also as the bedrock for psychological solace and trust. N5: I think there is a need to provide a more private environment to make them feel warm. C1: We need to utilize various mediums to create an atmosphere of care, trust, and open dialogue, providing opportunities for meaningful conversations.   Participants emphasised the importance of establishing positive interaction between medical staff and patients. They also highlighted the necessity for medical personnel to promptly address patient needs and authentically engage with patients, thereby fostering mutual trust. A3: I think it’s important to get to know your patients thoroughly, to address their questions and problems, and to make them trust you. N3: Indeed, action and expression can be seen as part of humanistic care.   This category encompasses the findings from interviews, highlighting both the facilitating factors and obstacles within humanistic palliative care. Three subthemes were distilled: (1) healthcare system factors, (2) patient-related factors and (3) healthcare personnel-related factors. Healthcare system factors Participants highlighted the costs associated with creating and maintaining a caring environment. Additionally, they mentioned that many patients and their families face economic difficulties, making it challenging to access medical services. N6: The department covers expenses for items like sofas and vases in the palliative care ward, which is a significant cost… N4: The fees for the palliative care ward are high, and many ordinary families cannot afford it… Patient-related factors Participants mentioned that resistance stemming from cultural and belief differences among patients and their families, coupled with a lack of awareness, hindered the initiation of discussions regarding the implementation of palliative care. Many participants shared experiences of unsuccessful implementation due to these obstacles. C2: Death seems to be a taboo subject in our department. N9: It’s hard to talk to them about life and death. They are very resistant. Healthcare personnel-related factors Some participants expressed a willingness to engage more actively in caregiving and wished for additional time to fulfil this role. Simultaneously, participants recognised the importance of acquiring specific knowledge and skills for the effective implementation of humanistic palliative care practices. N5: Actually, we all want to do things right, but it’s too busy for us to do it. N4: It would be better if there was professional training about this. N1: I need knowledge about it to be able to do it.   Participants highlighted the costs associated with creating and maintaining a caring environment. Additionally, they mentioned that many patients and their families face economic difficulties, making it challenging to access medical services. N6: The department covers expenses for items like sofas and vases in the palliative care ward, which is a significant cost… N4: The fees for the palliative care ward are high, and many ordinary families cannot afford it…   Participants mentioned that resistance stemming from cultural and belief differences among patients and their families, coupled with a lack of awareness, hindered the initiation of discussions regarding the implementation of palliative care. Many participants shared experiences of unsuccessful implementation due to these obstacles. C2: Death seems to be a taboo subject in our department. N9: It’s hard to talk to them about life and death. They are very resistant.   Some participants expressed a willingness to engage more actively in caregiving and wished for additional time to fulfil this role. Simultaneously, participants recognised the importance of acquiring specific knowledge and skills for the effective implementation of humanistic palliative care practices. N5: Actually, we all want to do things right, but it’s too busy for us to do it. N4: It would be better if there was professional training about this. N1: I need knowledge about it to be able to do it.   This study delves into the perspectives and experiences of medical staff within a multidisciplinary team regarding the implementation of humanistic palliative care in the oncology department. Similar to studies of palliative care in the UK and the USA, our study findings indicate an evident shift in the philosophical approach of medical staff towards humanistic care in palliative. This study further elucidates specific behaviours conducive to the implementation of humanistic palliative care, including fostering a caring atmosphere and establishing beneficial doctor–patient interactions. These specific behaviours have already been implemented in oncology wards, enhancing patients’ perceptions of humanistic care, as corroborated by the findings of other research. Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of humanistic palliative care encompass healthcare system factors, patient-related factors and healthcare personnel-related factors, all of which constitute crucial determinants influencing the implementation of humanistic palliative care. Despite evidence demonstrating the potential for palliative care to enhance patients’ quality of life, its provision to patients has not been consistently optimal. In recent years, there has been a growing understanding of and support for palliative care. Patients grappling with cancer experience a multitude of discomforting symptoms at different junctures of the disease, and the severity of their suffering directly correlates with a diminished quality of life for both patients and their families. The paramount aspiration of patients and their families is for the patients to experience maximum comfort. Medical staff have recognised the escalating significance of alleviating discomfort and delivering considerate humanistic care. Furthermore, early intervention has been proven to significantly enhance the quality of life for patients. Therefore, early intervention is imperative in the trajectory of cancer patients’ illnesses, enabling the provision of personalised care tailored to the needs of the patient and their families amidst disease progression. Establishing a supportive care environment is indispensable for palliative care in oncology wards, as it contributes to patient relaxation and enhances their medical experience. This study indicates that medical staff have acknowledged this need and endeavoured to effect behavioural changes through ward renovations. However, the attitudes of medical staff towards the implementation of humanistic palliative care encompass both positive and negative aspects, potentially stemming from a lack of knowledge and skills in caregiving. This deficiency can undermine the confidence of medical staff in carrying out their professional duties. Nevertheless, medical staff are motivated to excel, as the implementation of humanistic palliative care is viewed as a process of doctor–patient interaction that underscores the professional value of medical staff and provides them with a sense of accomplishment. As a result, there is considerable anticipation among medical staff for comprehensive training in professional care, particularly in the realm of communication, to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. It is widely acknowledged that, under the influence of traditional culture, Chinese people have long held a taboo attitude towards the topic of death. However, with the implementation of life education and societal progress, Chinese society has begun to confront and discuss death, even though their understanding and acceptance of death are still inadequate. Additionally, family members play a crucial role in facilitating humane medical care. Their understanding and attitudes towards patients’ conditions and treatments often directly impact the patients’ emotions and indirectly affect the implementation of medical team care. The traditional taboos surrounding death have increased resistance to the development of humanitarian palliative care, and decision-making centred around the family often overlooks the patient’s own needs. This study further confirms that patients and their family members’ reluctance to discuss such topics also presents certain challenges for the implementation of humane palliative care. Resistance from patients and family members can also affect the motivation of medical staff. Therefore, it is essential to further enhance the awareness and acceptance of humane palliative care among patients and their family members, while helping family members recognise the importance of respecting the patient’s right to information and decision-making. Our research demonstrates that support from health authorities and hospital administrators is a significant facilitating factor in promoting palliative care. Because such support not only enhances the ease of implementing humanistic palliative care but also boosts medical staff’s confidence in carrying out their responsibilities. However, relevant practices in China are still evolving, and a comprehensive mechanism to promote humanistic palliative care has not yet been established. This study posits that the costs associated with the provision of humanistic palliative care services pose limitations to their accessibility. Exorbitant costs may even impact the motivation of healthcare professionals, underscoring the need for further refinement of mechanisms by hospital administrators and health authorities to facilitate humanistic palliative care services, thereby offering patients a broader array of choices. Limitations and implications for future research First, this study is subject to recall bias as participants were asked about their past experiences in implementing humanistic care in palliative. Additionally, as a single-centre study with only 18 participants, the generalisability of the findings is limited. Nevertheless, this qualitative study represents the first attempt to explore the experiences of multidisciplinary teams in delivering humanistic care. The results add significantly to the knowledge base regarding the experience of multidisciplinary teams in providing humanistic palliative care. Future studies may consider conducting multicentre research to compare medical staff’s experiences across different regions. Moreover, we should enhance the focus on the experiences of patients and their families who receiving humanistic palliative care services.   First, this study is subject to recall bias as participants were asked about their past experiences in implementing humanistic care in palliative. Additionally, as a single-centre study with only 18 participants, the generalisability of the findings is limited. Nevertheless, this qualitative study represents the first attempt to explore the experiences of multidisciplinary teams in delivering humanistic care. The results add significantly to the knowledge base regarding the experience of multidisciplinary teams in providing humanistic palliative care. Future studies may consider conducting multicentre research to compare medical staff’s experiences across different regions. Moreover, we should enhance the focus on the experiences of patients and their families who receiving humanistic palliative care services.   Humanistic palliative care is novel concept, but the majority of participants have accepted it and believe that it can effectively improve the quality of life for patients and their families while providing a sense of fulfilment for medical staff. Moreover, the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of palliative care humanistic practices can be categorised into the following three aspects: (1) healthcare system factors, (2) patient-related factors and (3) healthcare personnel-related factors. Hospital administrators and health departments should prioritise the development of humanistic palliative care, conducting systematic and clinically relevant training to enhance the humanistic care abilities of interdisciplinary team members. Simultaneously, there is a call for more clinical practices related to humanistic palliative care, aiming to further improve the quality of medical services and benefit both patients and their families.   Reviewer comments Author's manuscript   