Clinical assessment of human suffering : planning care in the end of life

This book is addressed to physicians and other health professionals involved in the assessment and care planning of patients at the end of life. It brings a unique and humanistic view on the challenges of good practice in palliative care. Concepts and definitions, resources and therapeutic alternatives, as well as symptoms of distress in the physical, emotional, family, social and spiritual dimensions are discussed in a clear and practical way, demystifying and dissolving the barriers of this approach. Preface Contents Chapter 1: Introduction References Chapter 2: The Multidimensional Human Being 2.1 Principles of Palliative Care 2.2 The Care Plan 2.2.1 The Biological Dimension 2.2.2 The Emotional Dimension 2.2.3 The Social/Family Dimension 2.2.4 The Spiritual Dimension 2.3 Diversity of Individual Experiences of Suffering References Chapter 3: Oncological Disease Versus Nononcological Disease: Differences and Similarities in Their Manifestations of Suffering 3.1 Prognostic Evaluation 3.2 How to Measure Functional and Clinical Decline 3.3 Heart Disease 3.4 Pulmonary Disease 3.5 Kidney Disease 3.6 Liver Disease 3.7 Indications for Palliative Care in Intensive Care Units 3.8 HIV/AIDS 3.9 Long-Term Neurological Disorders 3.10 Mental Illness 3.11 Stroke 3.12 Dementia 3.13 Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis 3.14 Special Considerations References Chapter 4: Evaluation of Suffering in Adults and the Elderly 4.1 Dying in the Twenty-First Century References Chapter 5: How Good Conversations Can Be References Chapter 6: Dimensions of Care 6.1 The Biological Dimension 6.1.1 Evaluation and Classification Instruments for Symptoms 6.2 The Emotional Dimension 6.3 The Family Dimension 6.4 The Social Dimension 6.5 The Spiritual Dimension References Chapter 7: Practical Considerations in End-of-Life Care 7.1 Concepts 7.2 The Last Weeks of Life 7.3 The Last Days of Life 7.4 The Last Hours of Life 7.5 Preparing People for the Process of Dying 7.6 Palliative Sedation 7.7 When Death Happens 7.8 What Not to Do When a Natural Death Happens 7.9 Care of the Body After Death 7.10 Planning of Grief Support References Chapter 8: Grief and Bereavement: Practical Considerations for Health Professionals 8.1 Anticipatory Grief References Chapter 9: Accomplishments, Unfinished Business, and Regrets Reference Chapter 10: Recommendations for Family Care During Grief References Chapter 11: The Health Professional Faced with Their Patient’s Death: Considerations in Interprofessional Work—The Dimensions of Self-Care Chapter 12: Caring for Caregivers References Index