Monday, December 5, 2011

New Name = More Palliative Care?

Studies have shown that palliative care can improve a patient’s quality of life, and sometimes even extend that life. But palliative care tends not to come up in the doctor-patient conversation until rather late in the process. So, if it can do some good, how can palliative care be brought into the conversation earlier?


How about changing the name?


The Oncologist has published a study from the Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center showing that referrals came earlier and more frequently when palliative care was known instead as supportive care.


But is “supportive care” a clear enough term? Might “comfort care” be even better? Or is the meaning of “palliative care,” which covers a broad spectrum of pain management, so well known within medical practice that changing the name would cause confusion and do more harm than good?


Maybe palliative care, like hospice care, just needs to be better understood.


For more on the Anderson study, see: http://theoncologist.alphamedpress.org/content/16/1/105.short


3 comments:

  1. You like to put equation which is New Name = More Palliative Care. I can not understand the dynamics of this equation because i'm not Medical student but i think students who study medical books must understand it. In short, we can say this website have good collection of articles regarding medical topics. writers-house.com/buy-research-paper-online/

    ReplyDelete
  2. This article contains the facts or figures that are difficult for us to get in our practical life. So after over viewing http://www.rushessay-writer.com/ i find it too good for my general knowledge and want to conduct such kind of information to others so they may like it and you may get more liking or comments that would be a reason of fame for you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good post. I have a project that i am just now working on, and I've been on the lookout for such information. I will bookmark this post and i come back in future.To get scrimmage vests soccer Click here Tik Tok

    ReplyDelete