0000000000249650
AUTHOR
Vania Dimitrova
Patients with non-oncological chronic conditions: Improving end-of-life care through integrated care and early palliative care provision
Background: The last WHO definition of palliative care (PC) recognizes the integration of early PC in the course of illness and in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to treat disease as the way to provide optimal care. There is wide literature highlighting the benefits of early implementation of PC in oncological patients and there is a growing recognition of PC as an integral aspect of cancer treatment with the establishment of a range of specific guidelines concerning palliative cancer care. Nevertheless, these advances are not developed to the same extent in the approach of non-oncological chronic conditions. In this regard, patients of non-cancer diseases are rarely offe…
Palliative Care Needs and Integration of Palliative Care Support in COPD
Background The provision of palliative care for severe COPD remains low, resulting in unmet needs in patients and carers. Research Questions What are the palliative care needs of patients living with severe COPD and their caregivers? What views of accessing and providing palliative care and factors influence these experiences. To what extent have palliative care and COPD services been integrated? Study Design and Methods A multicentre qualitative study was undertaken in COPD services and specialist palliative care in the United Kingdom involving patients with severe COPD, their carers, and health professionals. Data were collected using semistructured interviews and were analyzed using fram…