Palliative Care
A section of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).
Section Information
The Palliative Care section aims to improve the quality of life of not only individuals with serious illnesses, but also their families and caregivers. Topics within this section cover advance care planning, symptom management, and emotional and psychosocial support across formal and informal care settings. The main focus areas include but are not limited to the following:
- Care Planning
This area includes assessing patients’ status, the needs of patients and families, and goals of care to promote shared decision-making and ensure continuity of care. This relates to ethical considerations, such as patients’ autonomy, informed consent, and decision-making.
- Symptom Management
This area encompasses pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches to relieving pain and other symptoms, optimization of nutrition for patients, emotional and psychosocial supports, and traditional and cultural adaptation for effective palliative care.
- Caregivers
This area involves healthcare professionals, family caregivers, and other specialists. The research areas include their roles in palliative care, their collaboration, training for caregivers, coping strategies, and psychological support.
- Healthcare System and Policy
This area includes palliative care across a range of settings, including hospital-, home-, and community-based care models, in relation to accessibility and equity. It also covers financial and insurance considerations.
