Articles: palliative-care.
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Palliative medicine · Jun 2022
Turkish imams and their role in decision-making in palliative care: A Directed Content and Narrative analysis.
Muslims are the largest religious minority in Europe. When confronted with life-threatening illness, they turn to their local imams for religious guidance. ⋯ Imams urge patients' relatives to show faith in God by seeking maximum treatment. This attitude is motivated by the fear that all Muslims involved will be held accountable by God for questioning His omnipotence to heal. Therefore, doctors may be urged to offer treatment that contradicts medical standards for good palliative care. To bridge this gap, tailor-made palliative care should be developed in collaboration with imams. Future research might include imams of other Muslim organizations.
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Improvements in diagnostic facilities and health-care services result in increased numbers of patients with end-stage disease being diagnosed and improvements in medical care for these patients resulting in longer life expectancy. This result generates the need to develop an integrative care system covering patient's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs. In the Gaza Strip, the scarcity of palliative care professionals reveals the necessity to develop such care systems. This study evaluated the knowledge of physicians, nurses, and medical students in the Gaza Strip hospitals about palliative care concepts. ⋯ None.
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Background: Among patients seen by palliative care, dysphagia is prevalent and can lead to disturbing symptoms and challenges in medical decisions for patients and families. Case: Our patient, AP, an 88-year-old woman with a history of thyroid cancer and esophageal dysmotility, was nearing end of life. ⋯ Discussion: This case presents an opportunity to: review strategies for evaluating and diagnosing dysphagia; appraise evidenced based approach to the palliative management of dysphagia; and promote the education of families and staff regarding palliative options for care. Conclusion: Palliative care professionals can be instrumental in educating patients, families, other clinicians, including swallowing therapists, on how to enhance comfort and quality of life among patients with dysphagia.