Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care

Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care (한국호스피스완화의료학회)
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A Phased Plan for the Expansion of Hospice and Palliative Care

  • So Young Park (Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center)
  • Received : 2024.06.24
  • Accepted : 2024.07.17
  • Published : 2024.09.01
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Abstract

Palliative care is a comprehensive approach aimed at improving the quality of life for patients and their families. The symptom burden and care needs of patients with end-stage, non-malignant diseases are similar to those experienced by patients with advanced cancer. Therefore, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the expansion of palliative care to encompass a broad spectrum of diseases. However, in Korea, the adoption of palliative care for non-malignant conditions remains markedly low, presenting numerous challenges that differ from those associated with cancer. Key barriers to implementing hospice care for non-malignant diseases include the difficulty in predicting end-of-life and a general lack of awareness about hospice palliative care among healthcare providers, patients, and their families. Additionally, there is a risk that suggesting palliative care to patients with non-malignant diseases might be misinterpreted as an endorsement by healthcare providers to cease treatment or abandon the patient. This article explores strategies to broaden the scope of hospice and palliative care for patients with non-malignant diseases.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by a grant from the National R&D Program for Cancer Control, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (RS -2023-CC140333).

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