STUDENTS: Logan DeSanto, Lucy Adams, Megan Lucey

ADVISOR: Mike Evans

ABSTRACT:

Palliative care (PC) is a specialized approach for disease management to focus on a patient and their family’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs while managing symptoms related to debilitating diseases. PC is utilized into the treatment of many disease processes, including chronic, progressive diseases such as cancer or other end-stage diseases. Interdisciplinary teams, including nurses, doctors, therapists, religious leaders, and social workers help patients to receive care for all aspects of their life. PC may be implemented while receiving treatment for cancer. Early discussion may be helpful since PC can help patients live longer due to an improved quality of life by treating diseases and symptoms concurrently. PC allows for patients to received individualized care targeted at specific symptoms affecting the patient at any time during the disease process. The best practices for implementation of PC involve symptom management by assessing the specific physical, emotional, or spiritual needs by the patient or family. Interventions are provided by utilizing pharmacological or other complementary treatments to support patients and their family members. Barriers to the incorporation of PC into the treatment of cancer patients include lack of provider implementation and funding, poor integration into the healthcare system, cultural differences, as well as lack of education and training. Many patients and family members negatively associate PC with end-of-life care. By utilizing a case study methodology and recommended best practices, nurses can provide successful implementation of PC into the treatment of a person with recurrent cancer.