The "aRIANNA" Project: An Observational Study on a Model of Early Identification of Patients with Palliative Care Needs through the Integration between Primary Care and Italian Home Palliative Care Units

Objective: The aim of this study was to illustrate the characteristics of patients with palliative care (PC) needs, early identified by general practitioners (GPS), and to analyze their care process in home PC services. Background: Early identification and service integration are key components to providing quality palliative care (PC) services ensuring the best possible service for patients and their families. However, in Italy, PC is often provided only in the last phase of life and for oncological patients, with a fragmented service. Methods: Multicenter prospective observational study, lasting in total 18 months, implemented in a sample of Italian Home Palliative Care Units (HPCUs), enr…