Textbook of Palliative Care

Approach and Nature of Palliative Care.- Quality of Life.- Global Aspects of Palliative Care.- Challenges and Future Directions of Palliative Care.- Organization of Palliative Care in Different Parts of the World.- Policies on Palliative Care in Different Parts of the World.- Palliative Care, Towards a New Definition.- Physical, Psychological/Psychiatric, Social and Spiritual Problems and Symptoms.- Pain and Pain Management.- Palliative Management of Breathlessness.- Fatigue.- Edema and Lymphedema.- Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Constipation, Diarrhea, and Intestinal Obstruction.- Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Nausea and Vomiting.- Cachexia/Anorexia and Feeding Difficulties.- Mouth.- Skin Symptoms.- Swallowing Difficulties.- Sleep Difficulties.- Psychological Symptoms.- Delirium and Palliative Care.- Neurological Symptoms.- Genitourinary Symptoms.- End-of-life Symptoms.- Gastroparesis and Cancer-Related Gastroparesis.- Advance Care Planning in Palliative Care.- Prognostication in Palliative Care.- Spirituality in Palliative Care.- Access to Palliative Care.- Integrated Palliative Care: Clinical, Organizational, and Health System Perspectives.- Family Focused Care Span.- Grief and Bereavement.- Rehabilitation in Palliative Care.- Dietetics and Nutrition in Palliative Care.- Mouth Care.- Creative Art Making in Palliative Care.- Music Engagement and Therapeutic Music.- Sexuality and Intimacy.- Interprofessional Practice in Palliative Care.- Generalists and Specialist Palliative Care.- Nursing and Palliative Care.- Self-Care and Palliative Care.- End of Life Care.- Self-management in Palliative Care.- Education and Palliative Care, Overview.- Palliative Care in Rural Settings.- Home Care, Primary Care.- Palliative Care in Residential Settings.- Hospital Care.- Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).- Volunteers in Palliative Care.- Palliative Care and Cancer.- Palliative Care and Neurodegenerative Diseases.- Palliative Care and Stroke.- Palliative Care in Heart Failure.- Palliative care of Respiratory Disease in Primary Care.- Palliative Care and Liver Diseases.- Palliative Care in Kidney Disease.- Palliative Care and Endocrine Diseases.- Palliative Care in Chronic Illness and Multimorbidity.- Palliative care in dementia.- Dealing with a Wound in Palliative Care.- Pressure Area Management in Palliative care.- End of Life Health Care Experiences of Indigenous People and Ethnic Minorities; the example of Canada.- Palliative Care, Frailty and Older People.- Palliative Care of Pediatric Populations.- Palliative Care and Intellectual Disability.- Palliative Care of Indigenous Peoples and Peoples of Different Ethnicity.- Hypercalcemia of Malignancy.- Thromboembolism and bleeding.- Spinal Cord Compression.- Superior Vena Cava Obstruction.- Acute Cancer Pain Syndromes in Palliative Care Emergencies.- Acute Dyspnoea.- Neutropenic Sepsis.- Seizures.- Tumor Lysis Syndrome.- Suicide and Attempted Suicide.- Transfer to a Preferred Place of Death.- Challenging Family Dynamics.- Delirium as a Palliative Care Emergency.- Distinguishing and Managing Severe Psychological and Psychiatric Distress.- End-Of-Life Decisions.- Sedation and Terminal Sedation.- Nutrition and Hydration in Palliative Care.- Ethics of home-coming.- Request for Assisted Suicide.- Public Health and Epidemiological Research in Palliative Care.- Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions in Palliative Care.- Mixed Method Research in Palliative Care.- Ethics in Palliative Care Research.- Evidence based Practice in Palliative Care.- New Public Health Approaches to End of Life Care.- A public health approach to integrate palliative care into a country's health care system: guidance as provided by the WHO.- Measuring Cost-Effectiveness in Palliative Care.- Financial Aspects of Inpatient Palliative Care.- Financial Aspects of Outpatient Palliative Care.- Serious Illness and Out-of-Pocket Spending.

Textbook of Palliative Care is a comprehensive, clinically relevant and state-of-the art book, aimed at advancing palliative care as a science, a clinical practice and as an art.

Palliative care has been part of healthcare for over fifty years but we still find ourselves having to explain its nature and practice to colleagues and to the public in general. Healthcare education and training has been slow to recognize the vital importance of ensuring that all practitioners have a good understanding of what is involved in the care of people with serious or advanced illnesses and their families. However, the science of palliative care is advancing and our understanding concerning many aspects of palliative care is developing rapidly.

The book is divided into separate sections for ease of use. Over 100 chapters written by experts in their given fields provide up-to-date information on a wide range of topics of relevance to those providing care towards the end of life no matter what the disease may be. We present a global perspective on contemporary and classic issues in palliative care with authors from a wide range of disciplines involved in this essential aspect of care. The Textbook includes sections addressing aspects such as symptom management and care provision, organization of care in different settings, care in specific disease groups, palliative care emergencies, ethics, public health approaches and research in palliative care.

This Textbook will be of value to practitioners in all disciplines and professions where the care of people approaching death is important, specialists as well as non-specialists, in any setting where people with serious advanced illnesses are residing. It is also an important resource for researchers, policy-and decision-makers at national or regional levels. Neither the science nor the art of palliative care will stand still so we aim to keep this Textbook updated as the authors find new evidence and approaches to care.

Roderick MacLeod is the holder of several degrees and Fellowships including MB, ChB, MMedEd, PhD, FRCGP, FAChPM. He was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015. He is currently Consultant in Palliative Care at HammondCare in Sydney and Honorary Professor in the University of Sydney School of Medicine, Australia and Honorary Clinical Professor in the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, New Zealand. Professor MacLeod has been involved in palliative care for over 30 years and has practiced in the UK, New Zealand and Australia. He has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles on aspects of palliative care and has written many books and book chapters on Palliative Care. He has been on the editorial board of a number of international journals and is a reviewer for many palliative care and health-related journals.

Lieve Van den Block is Professor of Ageing and Palliative Care at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and chair of the Ageing and Palliative Care Research Programme at the End-of-Life Care Research Group of the VUB and Ghent University in Belgium. She holds a PhD in Medical Social Sciences and a Clinical Psychology Master. Professor Van den Block has been involved in palliative care research for over 15 years, focusing on national and international public health and interventional research aimed at monitoring and improving palliative and end-of-life care. She has received several scientific awards for her work including the 2014 Early Researcher Award of the European Association for Palliative Care. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles on palliative care and is editor and author of several books and chapters. Her work has been supported by grants from the European Commission, national fundamental and applied research foundations, and leading medical and health charities.