Geographic, Socioeconomic, and Cultural Inequities in Access to Palliative Care: A Scoping Review

Palliative care is a fundamental component of health systems aimed at improving quality of life and alleviating suffering among people with serious, advanced, or life-limiting conditions. Despite its recognized importance, access to palliative care remains uneven, with persistent geographic, socioeconomic, and cultural inequities reported across and within countries. These inequities limit the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and timely use of palliative care services, particularly among socially and territorially disadvantaged populations. A comprehensive mapping of the existing evidence is needed to better understand how these inequities are conceptualized, measured, and addressed in the literature. Methods: This scoping review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and reported in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Studies published in English or Spanish between 2015 and 2026 that address geographic, socioeconomic, and/or cultural inequities in access to palliative care will be included. The search will be performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, EBSCOhost (All Databases), and BIREME (LILACS and SciELO). Study selection will be carried out by screening titles, abstracts, and full texts according to predefined inclusion criteria. Data will be extracted using a standardized charting form and analyzed descriptively and thematically. Expected results: The review is expected to map how access to palliative care is defined and operationalized, identify the main dimensions and indicators used to assess inequities, and describe populations and contexts most affected by unequal access. Additionally, it will summarize key barriers and facilitators, methodological approaches, and conceptual frameworks used in the study of inequities in palliative care access. Conclusions: This scoping review will provide an overview of the current evidence on inequities in access to palliative care and identify gaps to inform future research, health policy, and service planning aimed at promoting equity in palliative care delivery.