Background With a growing world population, a longer life expectancy, and more deaths due to chronic diseases, the need for palliative care is increasing. Palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and to promote well-being for patients with progressive, incurable disease or injury. E-Health entails using of information and communication technology for healthcare provision. It is unclear to how patients experience use of eHealth technology within palliative care. Methods The aim of this study was to describe patients’ experiences of eHealth in palliative care. A systematic integrative review was performed using six databases: Cinahl Complete; MEDLINE; PubMed; Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; Nursing and Allied Health; and PsycINFO. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria of adult patients in palliative care, English language, published 2014–2019: comprising 397 patients. Six studies were from European countries, four from North America, one from South America and one from Oceania. Seven were feasibility or pilot studies. Results The findings are synthesized in the main theme: E-health applications – promoting communication on patients’ and families’ terms, and three sub- themes: usability and feasibility of eHealth applications; symptom control and individualized care; and use of eHealth applications increased sense of security and patient safety. Patients’ experiences were that eHealth promoted individualized care, sense of security, better symptom management and participation in care. Communication was facilitated by the inherent flexibility provided by technology. Conclusions E-Health applications seem promising in promoting equal, individualized care, and may be a tool to endorse accessibility and patient participation in palliative care settings. Indications are that eHealth communication resulted in patients and families receiving more information, which contributed to experiences of patient safety and feelings of security. At organizational and societal levels, eHealth may contribute to sustainable development and more efficient use of resources.

Background: With a growing world population, a longer life expectancy, and more deaths due to chronic diseases, the need for palliative care is increasing. E-Health involves the use of information and communication technology to provide care, and also to transmit health information through the Internet and related technologies. E-Health can be an effective way of supporting communication between patient and healthcare providers, but it is unclear to how patients regard information and communication technology (ICT) within palliative careMethods: The aim of this study was to describe patients’ experiences of eHealth in palliative care. An integrative review with a systematic literature search of six databases: Cinahl Complete; MEDLINE with Full Text; PubMed; Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; Nursing and Allied Health; and PsycINFO generated 12 scientific articles. The articles were evaluated, data extracted, analyzed and synthesized, according to the aim.Results: The results are presented in the main theme: E-health applications – promoting communication on patients’ and families’ terms, and three sub- themes: usability and feasibility of eHealth applications; symptom control and individualized care promoted through eHealth applications; and use of eHealth applications increased sense of security and patient safety. Patients described ease of use, usability and feasibility of eHealth applications. Equal and individualized care, security, better symptom management, participation through increased accessibility and increased patient safety were described.Conclusions: E-Health applications promoted equal, individualized care, and may be a tool to promote accessibility and patient participation in palliative care settings. Furthermore, care transparency increased with eHealth communication when patients and families received more information, and experiences were that patient safety and feelings of security also were promoted. At organizational and societal levels, eHealth may contribute to sustainable development and more efficient use of resources in palliative care.

Background: With a growing world population, a longer life expectancy, and more deaths due to chronic diseases, the need for palliative care is increasing. Palliative care aims to alleviate suffering and to promot e well-being for patients with progressive, incurable disease or injury. E - Health entails us ing of information and communication technology for healthcare provision . I t is unclear to how patients experience use of eHealth technology within palliative care Methods: The aim of this study was to describe patients’ experiences of eHealth in palliative care. A systematic integrative review w as performed using six databases: Cinahl Complete; MEDLINE; PubMed; Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection; Nursing and Allied Health; and PsycINFO . Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria of adult patients in palliative care, English language , published 2014-2019: comprising 397 patients . S ix studies were from European countries, four from North America, one from South America and one from Oceania . Seven were feasibility or pilot studies. Results: The findings are synthesized in the main theme: E-health applications – promoting communication on patients’ and families’ terms , and three sub- themes: usability and feasibility of eHealth applications; symptom control and individualized care; and use of eHealth applications increased sense of security and patient safety. Patients ’ experiences were that eHealth promoted individualized care, sense of security, better symptom management and participation in care . Communication was facilitated by the inherent flexibility provided by technology . Conclusions: E-Health applications seem promising in promoting equal, individualized care, and may be a tool to endorse accessibility and patient participation in palliative care settings. I ndications are that eHealth communication resulted in patients and families receiving more information, which contributed to experiences of patient safety and feelings of security. At organizational and societal levels, eHealth may contribute to sustainable development and more efficient use of resources.