Needs in Palliative Care from the Perspective of the Patient, Family and Health Care Professionals

Dear Colleagues,

Palliative care involves a holistic approach to care, aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with advanced chronic diseases or in end-of-life situations, as well as providing them with a dignified death process. In a palliative care situation, in addition to the patient, the well-being and quality of life of the family and the multidisciplinary team caring for the patient takes on special relevance. In this sense, it is essential to support and cover the needs of the family and the health care team, as well as to provide adequate training for both. Being essential tools or strategies of symptoms control at a physical, psychological, social or spiritual level, good communication between the patient, family and care team is required, as well as an adequate care planning based on the needs, beliefs and values of the patient and family, which also ensures the continuity of care during the care process.

From this conceptualization of palliative care, we invite contributions to this Special Issue which include studies focused on patients with palliative needs, but also studies focused on the needs of families, studies linked to the grieving process, and studies on the needs of professionals, as these may be essential training aspects for the provision of quality palliative care (communication and self-care).

Prof. Dr. María José Cabañero Martínez
Prof. Dr. Manuel Fernández Alcántara
Prof. Rafael Montoya Juárez
Guest Editors

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