Description
Palliative care providers are increasingly seeking non-pharmacological supportive interventions to increase comfort and quality of life, which has led to the integration of complementary therapies within palliative care environments. This emerging field of integrative care brings wonderful opportunities as well as challenges. Among the opportunities, the ability to actively engage family caregivers in comfort care modalities, the ability to enhance comfort regardless of the care environment, and self-care opportunities for caregivers and professional staff to decrease stress and burnout. Among the challenges, the lack of education for professional staff regarding complementary therapies may deter professionals from recommending or facilitating access to helpful approaches that could enhance symptom management and increase quality of life and comfort.
A variety of complementary therapies have been shown to reduce suffering and improve quality of life, but the degree of evidence supporting their use in PC settings varies. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofield therapies (Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Reiki), expressive arts therapies (art, writing, music methods), massage, mind-body interventions, and movement approaches will be discussed.
Document Type
PowerPoint Presentation
Start Date
14-5-2016 8:15 AM
End Date
14-5-2016 9:15 AM
Genre/Form
lectures
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Palliative treatment; Integrative medicine; Holistic nursing
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Keywords
Integrative care, Evidence based integrative care
Included in
Evidence-Based Integrative Approaches in Palliative Care: Challenges and Opportunities
Palliative care providers are increasingly seeking non-pharmacological supportive interventions to increase comfort and quality of life, which has led to the integration of complementary therapies within palliative care environments. This emerging field of integrative care brings wonderful opportunities as well as challenges. Among the opportunities, the ability to actively engage family caregivers in comfort care modalities, the ability to enhance comfort regardless of the care environment, and self-care opportunities for caregivers and professional staff to decrease stress and burnout. Among the challenges, the lack of education for professional staff regarding complementary therapies may deter professionals from recommending or facilitating access to helpful approaches that could enhance symptom management and increase quality of life and comfort.
A variety of complementary therapies have been shown to reduce suffering and improve quality of life, but the degree of evidence supporting their use in PC settings varies. Acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofield therapies (Healing Touch, Therapeutic Touch, Reiki), expressive arts therapies (art, writing, music methods), massage, mind-body interventions, and movement approaches will be discussed.