Palliative Care

Question 1

Define Palliative Care

Answer 1

Active holistic care in the patients with advanced progressive illness
When a cure is no longer viable (but EoL isn’t necessarily imminent)

Question 2

State four aims of Palliative Care

Answer 2

• Provide relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
• Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
• Integrates psychological and spiritual aspects of patients care
• Helps patients live as actively as possible

Question 3

Name the key points at which palliative needs should be assessed

Answer 3

Time of diagnosis
Around treatment
End of treatment
Relapse
Approaching death

Question 4

How can physical needs be assessed?

Answer 4

Enquire about symptoms (rather than waiting)
Determine impact of each symptom
Make sure drug prescription is as pragmatic as possible

Question 5

How can psychological needs be assessed?

Answer 5

Prompt referral to psychological care services if needed

Staff should be kept up to date in training

Assessments should be done somewhere quiet and comfortable

Question 6

How can sociological needs be assessed?

Answer 6

Some patients and their carers may be reluctant to ask for help

Needs include: emotional support, personal care, housework and shopping, advice on employment issues

Offer professional assistance to obtain benefits for which they are eligible

Question 7

How can spiritual needs be assessed?

Answer 7

Explores a persons search for meaning in his/her life

Listens to persons experience, discussing their questions

Question 8

What information and explanations might the family be particularly interested in?

Answer 8

Fear of person dying
Feelings of inadequacy regarding caring at home
Financial worries
Altered role and lifestyle

Question 9

Give the risks and benefits of assessing prognosis

Answer 9

Benefits: Helps plan appropriate management and care

Risks: Overestimate (family feels robbed of time) or Underestimate (may question credibility)

Question 10

What is the Karnofsky Performance Scale?

Answer 10

The Karnofsky Performance Scale Index is an assessment tool for functional impairment. It can be used to compare effectiveness of different therapies and to assess the prognosis in individual patients. In most serious illnesses, the lower the Karnofsky score, the worse the likelihood of survival
From 10- 100% in deciles