Palliative Care (MCQ)

Question 1

What is palliative care ?

Answer 1

Care of the terminally ill and their families - often associated with cancer patients

Question 2

What are the principles of palliative care ?

Answer 2

To relieve pain and manage other distressing symptoms
Supportive network to allow for an active life to be lead by the patient
Integrate psychological and spiritual aspects of care

Question 3

Barriers to palliative care ?

Answer 3

Stigma attached
Patients and carers unaware of services available
Services not available universally

Question 4

What is the SPICT tool ?

Answer 4

Assesses and identifies general indicators of deteriorating health
Can initiate a referral and cooperation of services

Question 5

What does PEPSI COLA stand for ?

Answer 5

P - physical needs
E - emotional need
P - personal needs
S - social care needs
I - information

C - control/autonomy
O - out of hours
L - living with diagnosis
A - after care

Question 6

Paediatric considerations for palliative care

Answer 6

Home might be better for receiving care
Age is important
Maturity and personal preference when communicating and capacity to be involved in care and decision making
Pharmological considerations
Supporting their families

Question 7

What tools can be used to see how much pain a patient is in ?

Answer 7

Variable pain tools (such as 0-10)
SOCRATES tool

Question 8

How to manage nausea ?

Answer 8

A range of pharmacological measures
Non drug measures: environment, timing of meals, timing of medications and NG tube can help alleviate gastric distension

Question 9

How to manage breathlessness ?

Answer 9

Pharmacological interventions: mild opioids, sedatives, oxygen therapy
Non-pharmacological: positioning, comfort, breathing techniques