CN24 The perceptions of healthcare professionals on the provision of palliative and end-of-life care in prisons

The health of incarcerated individuals is worse than the general population. As a result, they are at greater risk developing life-limiting and chronic conditions, which require palliative potentially end-of-life care. Understanding healthcare professionals’ perceptions challenges practicalities around providing care in prisons key to advance state services. Three databases were searched (CINAHL, EMBASE MEDLINE) from 2011 2021. PRISMA reporting guideline Joanna Briggs Institute methodological informed searches. Search terms included ‘healthcare professionals’, ‘palliative’, ‘end life care’, accounted for differences terminology, e.g. ‘prisons’ (UK) ‘correctional facilities’ (USA). Critical appraisal quality narrative synthesis findings conducted. 853 records retrieved screened. Six qualitative studies retained, published between 2015 2021 UK (n=2), Australia (n=1), France (n=1) USA (n=2). Barriers (compassionate release, presence prison staff, mistrust HCPs individuals, system being unsure scope their practice), facilitators (specialist facilities compassionate training education, technology) opportunities (education, development policy guidelines, utilising available resources volunteers) provision found. reviewed research was reasonably good fairly credible, with clear implications practice. have yet be resolved. Specialist professionals recommended future Revision implementation policies, such as allowing time patients without officers present, process leave simpler, an unlocked door recommended.