Redefining Palliative Care—A New Consensus-Based Definition

Bibliographic Data

ID23369674
AuthorsLukas Radbruch (0000-0001-9526-396X, University Hospital Bonn, corresponding author), Liliana De Lima (0000-0002-0435-1620, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine), Felicia M Knaul (0000-0002-0512-4788, University of Miami), Felicia Knaul, Roberto Wenk, Zipporah Ali (0000-0003-3643-0304), Sushma Bhatnaghar (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Charmaine Blanchard, Charmaine L Blanchard (0000-0002-9302-1454, University of the Witwatersrand), Éduardo Bruera (0000-0002-8745-0412, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center), Rosa Buitrago (Universidad de Panamá), Claudia Burlá (0000-0002-1918-9275), Mary Callaway, Esther Munyoro (Kenyatta National Hospital), Esther Cege Munyoro, Carlos Centeno (0000-0003-3395-7039, Clinica Universidad de Navarra), Jim Cleary (Indiana University Health), Stephen R Connor (0000-0003-0332-2067, Hospice UK), Stephen Connor, Odontuya Davaasuren (Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences), Julia Downing (0000-0002-3450-785X, Right to Care), Kathleen M Foley (0000-0001-9707-007X), Kathleen Foley, Cynthia Goh (National Cancer Centre Singapore), Wendy Gómez García (0000-0002-6457-3559, Hospital Infantil Dr. Robert Reid Cabral), Wendy Gomez-Garcia, Richard Harding (0000-0002-3839-9366), Quach T Khan (HCMC Hospital of Dermato Venereology), Phillippe Larkin, Mhoira Leng (0000-0003-1449-0437, Makerere University), Emmanuel Luyirika (0000-0001-6580-3304, African Palliative Care Association), Joan Marston (Right to Care), Sébastien Moine (0000-0003-3960-9422), Hibah Osman (0000-0003-4324-0234, American University of Beirut Medical Center), Katherine Pettus (0000-0002-3952-9644, American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine), Christina Puchalski (0000-0002-4532-7766), Christina M Puchalski (George Washington University), M R Rajagopal (Pallium India), Dingle Spence (0000-0001-9733-4100), Odette Spruijt, Chitra Venkateswaran (0000-0001-9632-3039), Bee Wee (0000-0002-7714-0349, Sobell House), Roger Woodruff, Jinsun Yong (Catholic University of Korea), Tania Pastrana (0000-0002-1294-9657, Universitätsklinikum Aachen)
Year2020
Volume60
Issue4
Pages754-764
Publication date2020-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Pain and Symptom Management (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0885-3924 • E-ISSN: 1873-6513
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.04.027
PMID32387576
OpenAlexW3023463185
LanguageEN
Citations received71
References cited11

CONTEXT: The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care developed a consensus-based definition of palliative care (PC) that focuses on the relief of serious health-related suffering, a concept put forward by the Lancet Commission Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain Relief. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this article is to present the research behind the new definition. METHODS: The three-phased consensus process involved health care workers from countries in all income levels. In Phase 1, 38 PC experts evaluated the components of the World Health Organization definition and suggested new/revised ones. In Phase 2, 412 International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care members in 88 countries expressed their level of agreement with the suggested components. In Phase 3, using results from Phase 2, the expert panel developed the definition. RESULTS: The consensus-based definition is as follows: Palliative care is the active holistic care of individuals across all ages with serious health-related suffering due to severe illness and especially of those near the end of life. It aims to improve the quality of life of patients, their families and their caregivers. The definition includes a number of bullet points with additional details as well as recommendations for governments to reduce barriers to PC. CONCLUSION: Participants had significantly different perceptions and interpretations of PC. The greatest challenge faced by the core group was trying to find a middle ground between those who think that PC is the relief of all suffering and those who believe that PC describes the care of those with a very limited remaining life span.

Commission · Economic growth · Family medicine · Health care · MEDLINE · Palliative care · Political science · Quality of life (healthcare) · Health, Medicine and Society · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative and Oncologic Care · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues