Open AccessPsychosocial issues in palliative care: A review of five cases
Author(s) -
Tonia C. Onyeka
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
indian journal of palliative care/indian journal of palliative care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.395
H-Index - 26
eISSN - 1998-3735
pISSN - 0973-1075
DOI - 10.4103/0973-1075.73642
Subject(s) - psychosocial , medicine , palliative care , multidisciplinary approach , multidisciplinary team , nursing , quality of life (healthcare) , disease , limiting , health professionals , health care , family medicine , psychiatry , mechanical engineering , social science , pathology , sociology , engineering , economics , economic growth
Palliative care is not just vital in controlling symptoms of the patient's disease condition, but also aims to extend the patient's life, giving it a better quality. However, several times in the course of management, the psychosocial impact of cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other life-limiting disease conditions may not be noticed and dealt with during the admission period, thereby giving rise to a more complex situation than the disease condition itself. This article aims to review some psychosocial issues and measures that can be taken to address them. It highlights the various roles and the importance of the clinician, nurse, social worker, and other members of the multidisciplinary team in tackling these issues and will help healthcare professionals in this field achieve better practice in the future.