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Call for papers - Home-based palliative care

Guest Editors

Arun Ghoshal, MD, MRes, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, India
Heidi Holmen, RN, PhD, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway

Submission Status: Open   |   Submission Deadline: 10 November 2025


BMC Palliative Care is calling for submissions to our Collection on "Home-based palliative care." This Collection invites research focused on home-based palliative care, emphasizing its critical role in enhancing the quality of life for patients facing life-limiting illnesses. We welcome submissions that explore innovative models, caregiver experiences, and the integration of technology in palliative care, aiming to inform best practices and policies that prioritize patient-centered approaches in end-of-life care.

New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Arun Ghoshal, MD, MRes, Kasturba Medical College Manipal, India

Dr Arun Ghoshal is an experienced professional in home-based palliative care, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals receiving care at home. With a background in palliative care and a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by both caregivers and clients, Arun has worked diligently to develop innovative solutions that promote compassionate and personalized care. His expertise includes service delivery, policy development, and caregiver training. He is committed to driving positive change in the home care sector through advocacy, education, and a strong dedication to improving overall care standards.

Heidi Holmen, RN, PhD, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway

Dr Heidi Holmen is PI for a large project in home-based palliative care for children: "Gathering evidence for evidence-based health technology to support communication in homebased pediatric palliative care – CHIP homeTec," spanning from 2021 to 2026. Her research interests are in health technology and how technology can support people living with long-term or chronic conditions, in both adults and children. She has led a research project related to digital outpatient clinics in the specialist health service, targeting adults with cancer, epilepsy, interstitial lung disease or complex pain in a multicentre multimethod project. Holmen is trained as a diabetes specialist nurse with a PhD in mobile health for diabetes self-management. She was appointed a position in the OsloMet "Research talent program" from 2020 to 2021.

About the Collection

Home-based palliative care is an essential component of healthcare that emphasizes providing comprehensive support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in the comfort of their own homes. This approach not only addresses the physical symptoms of illness but also considers the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families. As healthcare systems increasingly recognize the importance of patient-centered care, home-based palliative care has emerged as a vital alternative to traditional hospital-based services, allowing for individualized care that respects the preferences and dignity of patients during their end-of-life journey.

Advances in telehealth technologies and multidisciplinary care models have made it possible to provide high-quality palliative care remotely, ensuring that patients receive timely interventions and support. Research has demonstrated that home-based palliative care can lead to improved quality of life, reduced hospital admissions, and increased patient and family satisfaction, making it a critical area for ongoing exploration. Looking forward, continued research in home-based palliative care holds the potential to refine care delivery models, enhance training for healthcare providers, and develop innovative tools for patient and caregiver support. In light of these efforts, BMC Palliative Care is opening this Collection, “Home-based palliative care.” Topics of interest include:

  • Models of home-based palliative care
  • Family caregiver experiences in home hospice
  • Telehealth in palliative and end-of-life care
  • Access to palliative medicine and recourses
  • Cultural considerations in home-based palliative care
  • Disparities in access to home-based palliative care and strategies for inclusivity
  • Evaluation of policies, funding models, and cost-effectiveness of home-based care
  • Education and training for home healthcare providers and caregivers
  • Comparative quality of life and end-of-life care: home vs. institutional settings


All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

Image credit: © saelim / Stock.adobe.com

  1. Home-based health technologies for paediatric palliative care have great potential to improve care for children, caregivers, healthcare professionals, and health systems. However, no systematic reviews have di...

    Authors: Erik Bjørnerud, Simen A. Steindal, Bjørn M. Hofmann, Anette Winger, Kirsti Riiser, Weiqin Chen and Heidi Holmen
    Citation: BMC Palliative Care 2025 24:139
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select Home-based palliative care from the dropdown menu.

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.