Introduction: The history of palliative care dates back to the 1950s. Purpose: To examine the perceptions of hospice workers and family members of hospice patients related to hospice care in Podlaskie province in Poland. Materials and methods: The present study included 103 hospice workers and 104 family members of patients in hospice. The survey approach was used. Results: 56.7% families and 95.1% hospice workers considered hospice comprehensive care for terminally ill patients. In all, 84.6% of the families and 91.3% of the staff thought positively about hospice. Lack of knowledge of family on dying patients (43.3% families and 61.2% hospice workers), low level of funding for hospices (50% families and 64.1% hospice workers) and a small number of hospices and palliative care clinics (47.1% families and 53.4% hospice workers) are the most common problems in palliative care. According to 78.8% of the families and 84.5% of the staff, a specialist of palliative medicine should work in hospice. 62.5% of the families and 75.7% of the hospice workers were convinced that a nurse with a specialization should also work in hospice. According to 92.9% of the families and 96.9% of the staff, the patient and their family receive support in hospice. Conclusions: Most of the respondents were convinced that hospice is an appropriate place for terminally ill patients. Lack of knowledge of family on dying patients, low level of funding for hospices, a small number of hospices and palliative care clinics are the most common problems in palliative care.
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