What is palliative care? How is it different from hospice?

I was interested in how Palliative care teams (PCTs) were being utilized in Japan these days.

Since referrals are an important avenue for such care, I went looking for material, and came across a 2022 article, entitled Attitudes of Physicians toward Palliative Care in Intensive Care Units: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in Japan. (Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, Volume 63, Issue 3, March 2022).

It was reported that, out of 436 ICU physician directors surveyed, 94% (n = 411) felt that primary palliative care should be strengthened in ICUs; 89% (n = 386) wanted ICU physicians to collaborate with specialists, such as palliative care teams (PCTs); and 71% (n = 311) indicated the need for specialized palliative care consultations.

BUT only 38% (n = 166) had actually consulted, and only 6% (n = 28) have consulted more than 10 patients in the past year. Of those who consulted, PCTs were most consulted for patients with serious end-of-life illness (24%) (n = 107), intractable pain (21%) (n = 92), and providing psychological support to family members (43%, n = 187).

The potential barriers identified in the study in providing primary and specialized palliative care included being unable to understand the patients’ intentions (54%, n = 235), lack of knowledge and skills in palliative care (53%, n = 230), and inability to consult with PCTs in a timely manner (46%, n = 201).

More palliative care education programs for physicians and other medical practitioners should help spread of basic palliative care in Japan.

Family members aboard have benefited from palliative care. Very informative additional research @Skeptical 7:01am, contrasting Japan’s state of palliative care resources. -* ***Well done! **-

- “More palliative care education programs for physicians and other medical practitioners should help spread of basic palliative care in Japan.” -

palliative care should be supported much more strongly, a lot of people would benefit a huge lot if they knew its benefits, it is sad that it has such bad reputation in many places.

My wife has a terminal disease. We have worked with her doctors, nurses and other caregivers to create a palliative care program. We did not have to be forceful, just had to talk with them and come to an agreement about what was possible and what we wanted. The thing is is that many patients and families won't approach the topic and won't set up a plan. They don't want to bother the doctors and everyone. Whenever we apologized for taking their time, we always got the same response that it was their jobs and my wife's comfort was most important.

My wife and took care of her father until it became impossible, and I drove him to the hospital in the back of my van.. He did not want the sirens.