Updates on palliative care: what, for whom, and how?

Abstract

Palliative care is a new specialty that focuses on relieving pain and other symptoms in patients with serious chronic diseases regardless the diagnosis or the stage of the disease. Palliative care professionals aspire to improve the quality of life for the affected patients, their families and caregivers. This type of care is provided alongside with curative treatment and other interventions that the patient may receive. This study came as a review of the current literature published in scientific peer-reviewed journals and presented as a summary of these studies. This article aims to provide an update on the latest definitions and concept of palliative care, as well as to highlight the various aspects and dimensions of palliative care and the nature of patients who need palliative care. In summary, we can say that palliative care adds a new dimension to health care that is concerned with the quality of life of the patient and his family. Palliative care is not only restricted to cancer survivors but also cares for all patients with chronic diseases that have no cure but their agonizing symptoms can be managed or at least reduced.