week 8 Flashcards
(7 cards)
Q: Define palliative care.
A: Total care for patients whose disease is not curable, addressing physical, psychosocial, and spiritual needs to improve quality of life.
Q: What are the goals of palliative care?
Recognise dying as natural
Support what matters most to patient/family
Team-based care
Minimise unnecessary treatments
Preserve dignity until death
Q: Key components of palliative care include…
Comfort-focused symptom management
Respect for cultural/spiritual needs
Involving loved ones
Advance care planning
Not hastening/delaying death
Q: Behavioural signs of dying include…
A: Withdrawal, loss of appetite, inability to get out of bed, difficulty swallowing medications.
Q: Clinical signs of dying include…
A: Cyanosis, irregular breathing, drowsiness, secretions, hypotension, tachycardia.
Q: What is anticipatory care in palliative settings?
A: Providing honest information and pre-prescribing meds (e.g., analgesics, antiemetics) to manage expected symptoms.
Q: What is the ‘therapeutic use of self’ in palliative care?
A: Using your presence, honesty, and compassion to build trust and provide meaningful care.
