HISTORY OF
PALLIATIVE CARE
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Definition and Importance of Palliative Care.
Early History of Palliative Care.
Development of Modern Palliative Care.
Principles in Palliative care
Milestones in Palliative Care.
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Global Spread and Adoption.
Challenges and Controversies.
Impact of Palliative Care on Healthcare.
Future Directions
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Definition Of Palliative Care.
Palliative care is a growing field of medicine. It aims to
improve the quality of life of people with serious or
life-altering illnesses.
Each person’s care varies but can involve physical,
psychological, and educational elements.
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Palliative care is sometimes called supportive care.
Palliative care encompasses the whole self, caring for
the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients
and their families. It relieves pain and other symptoms
of illness such as fatigue, nausea, shortness of breath,
and loss of appetite. GROUP 1
Importance and scope of studying the
history of palliative care.
Improved quality of life: According to people with
Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, those who
received palliative care scored their quality of life as
three points higher than those with traditional treatment.
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Early palliative care is associated with a lower risk of
depression in people newly diagnosed with advanced
cancer, according to research.
Support for family members and caregivers.
Longer survival.
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Palliative care consistently improves both patient and
caregiver satisfaction.
Palliative care specialists provide support to people
diagnosed with a serious illness and their families to
make decisions about care and support emotionally,
coping with the diagnosis. GROUP 1
Early History of Palliative Care.
Caring for the terminally ill has a rich history that spans
various cultures and civilizations.
In ancient times, care for the dying was often rooted in
spiritual and religious beliefs. For example:
In ancient Egypt (around 2500 BCE), the goddess Isis was
Priests and priestesses would provide spiritual care to the
terminally ill.
In ancient Greece and Rome (around 500 BCE to 500 CE),
hospice-like institutions called "xenodochia" provided
shelter and care for travelers, including those who were ill
or dying. GROUP 1
In India, the concept of "ahimsa" (non-violence) in ancient
Hinduism and Buddhism (around 500 BCE to 500 CE)
emphasized compassion and care for all living beings,
including the terminally ill.
In Africa, traditional healers played a role in caring for the
dying, using spiritual and herbal remedies.
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Development of Modern Palliative Care.
This was a time when organized religion's monopoly over
transcendent dimensions of human experience waned, and
the health professions began to exert greater influence over
this meaningful existential ground.
Dame Cecily Saunders, founder of the modern hospice and
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palliative care movement, was trained as a social worker,
nurse, and physician.
It is relevant to note that hospice and palliative care remain
thoroughly interdisciplinary to this day, drawing on
Saunders' embodiment of this principle.
Dame Cecily Saunders was a clinician scientist,
engaging with patients as whole individuals with meaningful
narratives, who integrated scientific knowledge with care and
love.
This vision was manifest in the founding of St.
Christopher's Hospice in London in 1967, the first medical
rather than religious institution
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of its kind, dedicated to the
care of the dying.
In so doing, she expanded the clinical gaze beyond
treating disease, to addressing the needs of the
person living with a terminal diagnosis.
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Key evolution of palliative care provision includes:
The design and implementation of public health models as
national or regional palliative care programs, and the
policy proposed by the WHO in the World Health
Assembly Resolution WHA67.19 in 2014: “Strengthening
of palliative care as a component of comprehensive
care throughout the life course.”
The shift from the institutional and late care of terminal
cancer patients toward the timely community and
population-based perspective and links to chronic care
models.
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Principles of Palliative.
Holistic Approach.
Palliative care is characterized by respect for the patient's
and their family's goals, values, and preferences.
Collaborative Care.
Open Communication.
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Palliative care covers ethical concerns surrounding end-
of-life care, including choices about stopping or
withdrawing therapies.
Bereavement care.
Symptom Relief.
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Milestones in Palliative Care
In the 1960s, Dame Cicely Saunders founded the first
modern hospice, which was a turning point in the
development of a holistic approach to end-of-life care that
gives patients with terminal illnesses priority for pain
management, emotional support, and dignity.
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This invention made it possible for palliative care to develop
into a separate medical specialty and encouraged
interdisciplinary cooperation among medical experts in
order to meet the complex requirements of patients and their
families.
Palliative care is increasingly commonly recognized as
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necessary in addition to curative treatments, encouraging
early integration and ensuring comprehensive support
throughout the illness trajectory.
These milestones underscore palliative care's evolution
from a compassionate idea to an integral component of
global healthcare frameworks,
striving to improve outcomes and comfort for individuals
facing serious illnesses.
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Global Spread and Adoption of Palliative Care
The global spread and adoption of palliative care principles
have been driven by a growing recognition of the need for
holistic and compassionate care for patients with serious
illnesses.
This diffusion is supported not only by international
organizations like the World GROUP
Health1 Organization (WHO)
and the European Association for Palliative Care
(EAPC) but also by local initiatives and partnerships that
promote education, training, and advocacy.
The WHO, through its Global Action Plan for the
Prevention and Control of Non communicable Diseases,
emphasizes integrating palliative care into national health
policies and strategies, thereby promoting universal health
coverage.
Similarly, the EAPC provides guidance on best practices,
research, and education, fostering networks of
professionals and organizations committed to advancing
palliative care across Europe and beyond.
Together, these entities collaborate to address barriers
such as limited resources, cultural perceptions, and
varying healthcare systems, aiming to ensure that all
individuals facing serious illness receive dignified and
supportive care wherever they are in the world.
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Their collective efforts underscore the importance of a
global approach to palliative care that respects diversity
while promoting universal standards of excellence and
accessibility.
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Challenges and Controversies of Palliative Care.
Communication Problems.
Treatment choices and ethical considerations in
palliative care are influenced by religious beliefs.
Legal and policy variations among jurisdictions affect
access to palliative care. GROUP 1
Ethical Dilemmas.
Ensuring fair access to high-quality palliative care for all
patients in need is difficult due to a lack of resources.
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Impact of Palliative Care on Healthcare.
Improved quality of Life.
Patient-Centered Care.
Enhanced Patient and Family Satisfaction.
Better Health Outcomes.
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Education and Awareness.
Integration with Other Treatments.
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Advancing interdisciplinary collaboration and
leveraging technology in Palliative Care.
Advancements in Research.
Technology Integration.
Enhanced Patient and Caregiver Experience.
Personalized Care Delivery.
Efficiency and Effectiveness.
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REFERENCES.
Gawande, A. (2014). Being mortal: Medicine and what
matters in the end. Metropolitan Books.
Cherny, N., Fallon, M., Kaasa, S., Portenoy, R. K., &
Currow, D. C. (Eds.). (2019). The Oxford textbook of
palliative medicine (6th ed.). Oxford University Press.
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Matzo, M. L., & Sherman, D. W. (Eds.). (2019). Palliative
care nursing: Quality care to the end of life (5th ed.). Springer
Publishing Company.
Watson, M., Ward, S., & Vallath, N. (Eds.). (2019). Oxford
handbook of palliative care (3rd ed.). Oxford University
Press. GROUP 1
MacDonald, N., & Dickman, A. (2016). Palliative
medicine: A case-based manual. Oxford University Press.
Baker, J. M., & Holloway, R. G. (Eds.). (2017).
Integrating palliative care into neurology. Oxford
University Press.
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THANK YOU
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