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Compassion is a complex and multifaceted concept that has been explored from a range of cultural, philosophical, theological, and sociological perspectives. It can be considered a prerequisite for optimal health care, an expectation of the general public from their health care system, and a specific approach to care which should underpin the work of health care professionals globally. Given the nature of life-limiting illness and the challenges that shifting goals of care impose, the place of compassion as the underlying construct governing health care decisions would seem paramount. Yet there is an increasing concern-particularly in the UK media and recent reviews of clinical practices around end-of-life care-suggesting that somehow compassion has been lost as a governing principle of care giving. The reasons for this are not always clear, but increased clinical intervention, the over-professionalization of care, and lack of formal teaching on the topic of compassion are all indicated. Given the complex nature of care in advanced illness and life-limiting disease, the place of compassion within palliative and end-of-life care is worthy of further exploration to try to understand this phenomenon better. This book asks an international panel of expert palliative care practitioners to consider these issues for themselves and the discipline as we move into the 21st century. Through a series of interviews with some of the world’s experts in the field, the meaning, purpose, and outcome of providing compassionate care for palliative and end-of-life care is explored and critiqued. A critical commentary of themes raised by each contributor is discussed relative to the broader literature around the topic, and further reading and learning resources indicated for practitioners, educators, and students to follow up.Less

This resource discusses how a multidisciplinary and integrative approach to pain and analgesia should be considered by pain practitioners who treat patients with pain. Some familiarity with the cultural background of patients and self-awareness of the provider's own cultural characteristics will allow the pain practitioner to better understand patients' values, attitudes and preferences. This knowledge of patients' cultural practices and their impact on biological processes, including the origin and development of pain-related disease, can help to determine response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. Less

This resource concentrates on advanced dementia, and addresses issues such as pain management, decision-making, spiritual needs, communication, the Mental Health Capacity Act, dementia in the younger patient, and the carer's perspective.Less

Providing an overview of pharmacology and prescribing advice, this second edition contains over 160 drug monographs, presented in an A-Z format. Fully revised and updated, this detailed yet concise resource will appeal to all healthcare professionals involved in the provision of palliative care and medicines information. Less

This is a practical, accessible guide to all emergency situations encountered in palliative care. It provides clinical guidance for the management of people with progressive life limiting illnesses including cancer, AIDS, end-stage organ failure and neurodegenerative diseases. Less

This resource aims to provide clinicians with expert opinion on how to manage certain common scenarios involving opioid management of chronic pain. It provides the reader not only with an easy reference to the management of common clinical scenarios where opioids are involved, but also with in depth analysis of the difficult issues surrounding a treatment that is both uniquely effective and potentially harmful.Less

As cancer treatment has evolved toward precision medicine, psychosocial research and practices for cancer patients and their family members have also raised awareness of the need for a personalized, patient-focused, family-oriented approach in the psycho-oncology field. Gender in Psycho-Oncology is the first book of its kind to provide comprehensive views on the role of gender in the adjustment of the individual and the patient–caregiver pair when dealing with cancer. The text explores the significant role of gender in diverse pairings of genders between the patient and the caregiver. It also highlights the importance of age, generation, and sociocultural characteristics, as well as the illness trajectory and lifespan trajectory of the individual and the patient–caregiver pair, and an ongoing sociocultural movement that is changing social role expectations based on gender. Offering both fundamental and practical information, Gender in Psycho-Oncology is an ideal book for health care practitioners from a spectrum of disciplines in the psycho-oncology field.Less

Excellent end of life care for people with heart failure is challenging but possible. In easily digestible summaries, this resource presents practical advice about how and when to integrate a palliative care approach alongside standard heart failure management. Less

In the United States, the subspecialty of hospice and palliative medicine has seen rapid growth since it was recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. During the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of palliative care programs and improved access to palliative and hospice for patients with life-limiting illness. There has also been an increase in the educational opportunities as well as growth of fellowship programs to train palliative care fellows. Unfortunately, there are limited study aids available for learning and retaining essential concepts in palliative care. Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care Flashcards is a comprehensive, evidence-based book of flashcards for clinicians caring for patients who require hospice and palliative care and supportive care. Written in a clinical scenario/vignette, question-and-answer format by experts with first-hand experience in the field, the flashcards are highly readable and serve as a source of fast answers to clinical questions in the field. A total of 300 flashcards are organized into chapters by disease and provide readers with up-to-date information that follows the core curriculum of American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine for ease of use and rapid review for exams. This book will equip care professionals with key concepts related to the assessment and management of palliative care, making it an ideal point-of-care quick reference for physicians, nurse practitioners, fellows, residents, and students.Less

This resource provides practical guidance on end of life management for patients with renal disease. It is presented in easily accessible, bullet point style, and is illustrated with case histories from real life patients, and drug tables. Less

Landmark Papers in Pain offers a comprehensive inventory of over 80 key studies in pain medicine from the last 100 years. Pain medicine, a relatively new specialty, has proven increasingly relevant to medical practitioners in every field. The specialism of pain has emerged over the past 50 years, largely due to the persistence of experts and new medical evidence that points to its necessity. Today, it is a distinct and integral part of global medical practice. Each paper in this book is accompanied by a concise commentary on the significance of the original findings written by an expert in pain. The reviews discuss how the papers influenced the development of the speciality and how the findings have advanced our global comprehension of pain. Together, the selected papers and reviews chart the growth of an embryonic field into the modern speciality of pain medicine. Complied by leading specialists in the field, the papers included in this book are significant for any student, researcher, clinical practitioner, or medical historian interested in pain medicine. Organized into eight distinct topics and cross-referenced by topics and author of original paper, the book is comprehensive in its coverage and easy to use. A review of the contemporary and historical research that shaped the speciality of pain, Landmark Papers in Pain is essential reading for all medical practitioners with an interest in pain medicine and pain research.Less

This resource offers a fundamental guide on the diagnosis and therapy of frequently encountered pain conditions for non-pain physicians and clinicians. Written using easily-accessible language, it first reviews the basics of opioids and other therapies, including psychotherapy and complementary modalities, followed by clinically-relevant cases chosen to reflect those conditions most frequently encountered by primary care providers. Less

Oxford Case Histories in Oncology contains 30 well-structured cases from clinical practice, giving a comprehensive coverage of the diagnostic and management dilemmas in oncology. The cases cover a wide spectrum of oncology, including rare presentations and clinical problems of common cancers. Each case comprises a brief clinical history with relevant clinical examination findings. Questions are based on clinical investigations and aspects of management. Detailed answers are based on the best available evidence from the latest research, systematic reviews, meta-analysis and guidelines from national and international academic bodies. This resource is complimented by over 50 illustrations, including radiographic images and radiotherapy treatment plans. Less

The Oxford Handbook of Palliative Care is a concise summary of current Palliative Care Practice written by those actively involved in the care of patients in the last phase of life. While management of symptoms is a very important contribution to the quality of end of life care, dying is not predominantly a medical event, but an important part of life. As such the Handbook, while detailing the contemporary management of physical and psychological symptoms, also includes contributions from a wide variety of professionals involved in the wider aspects of care and support for individuals and their families. The Handbook also includes references and quotations from literature relating to the existential issues that surround mortality.Less

This textbook integrates clinical wisdom with empirical findings, drawing upon the history of communication science, providing a comprehensive curriculum for applied communication skills training for specialist oncologists, surgeons, nurses, psychosocial care providers and other members of the multidisciplinary team. This new edition presents a curriculum for nurses, which discusses needs of pre-registration to advanced trainees, including the ‘SAGE & THYME’ training programme, chronic disease, responding to depressed patients, the last hours and days of life, family care, facilitation training, and e-learning. The core curriculum ranges from breaking bad news, discussing risk and prognosis, achieving shared treatment decisions, responding to difficult emotions, dealing with denial, communicating with relatives and conducting a family meeting, helping patients cope with survivorship, deal with recurrence, transition to palliative care, and talk openly about death and dying. Modules offer guidelines about key skills, essential tasks, effective strategies, and scenarios for training sessions with simulated patients. The communication science section covers the history and models of communication skills training, the art of facilitating skill development, ethics, gender, power, the internet, audio-recording significant consultations, decision aides, and shared treatment decisions, medical student training, and enhancing patient participation in consultations. Specialty issues are explored, including enrolling in clinical trials, working in teams, discussing genetic risk, reconstructive and salvage surgery, among many other important issues. Variations in clinical disciplines are also discussed, including chapters for social workers, radiologists, surgical oncologists, medical and radiation oncologists, palliative medicine, pastoral care, pharmacy, paediatrics, and the elderly.Less

Comprehensive in scope and definitive in authority, this second edition has been thoroughly updated to cover new practices, current epidemiological data and the evolving models that support the delivery of palliative medicine to children. it is is an essential resource for anyone who works with children worldwide. Less

This new edition of the Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine has been thoroughly updated to offer a truly global perspective in this field, and new sections include information on assessment tools, care of patients with cancer, and the management of issues in the very young and the very old. It covers all the new and emerging topics, and the multi-disciplinary nature of palliative care is emphasized throughout, covering areas from ethical and communication issues, the treatment of symptoms, and the management of pain.Less

Spirituality and healthcare is an emerging field of research, practice and policy, and healthcare organisations and practitioners are therefore challenged to understand and address spirituality, develop their knowledge and implement effective policy. This is the first reference resource to provide a comprehensive overview of the key topics.Less

Looking after children with life-limiting conditions can be very difficult for both parents and health-care professionals. This second edition of Paediatric Palliative Medicine is full of easily accessible, detailed information on medical conditions and symptoms, and includes specific management plans in order to guide the practising clinician through treatment of children requiring palliative care. Using the bestselling Oxford Specialist Handbook format to deliver practical and concise information, this handbook facilitates bedside delivery of effective palliative medicine. It includes detailed information on symptom control and the philosophy and models that support delivery of palliative medicine to children, while also covering practical delivery of palliative medicine relating to other professionals and families, and the learning and coping skills required in palliative care. It also contains a quick-reference drug formulary. Fully updated with an expanded formulary and a new chapter on the intensive care unit, this new edition continues to be the authoritative reference tool in paediatric palliative care.Less

This is a guide for the practising GP on how to help in the management of patients presenting with pain or other common distressing symptoms. This online reference is split into two sections; pain management and a detailed review of pain control techniques, and palliation and an exploration of the methods of symptom control available for use in the community. It also devotes a section to terminal illness and the new GMS contract.Less