Textbook of Palliative Medicine

Textbook of Palliative Medicine provides an alternative, truly international approach to this rapidly growing specialty. This textbook fills a niche with its evidence-based, multi-professional approach and global perspective ensured by the international team of editors and contributing authors. In the absence of an international ‘curriculum' for the study of palliative medicine, this textbook provides essential guidance for those both embarking upon a career in palliative medicine or already established in the field, and the structure and content have been constructed very much with this in mind. With an emphasis on providing a service anywhere in the world, including the important issue of palliative care in the developing nations, Textbook of Palliative Medicine offers a genuine alternative to the narrative approach of its competitors, and is an ideal complement to them. It is essential reading for all palliative care physicians in training and in practice, as well as palliative care nurses and other health professionals in the palliative care team. Evidence-based approach to modern palliative care practice focusing on what the palliative physician in training or in practice needs to know Multidisciplinary in approach reflecting the needs of the palliative care team Designed to shape current thinking and future planning of care - establishing an 'unofficial' international curriculum for the study of palliative medicine Presenting a truly global perspective with particular emphasis on practice in continental Europe and North America as well as the UK Also addresses the important issue of palliative care in the less developed nations Exemplary editorial team and renowned list of contributors Table of Contents: PART 1   The development of palliative medicine in: the UK and Ireland   Europe   Canada   the USA   Latin America   Africa   Australia and New Zealand   Asia   Palliative care versus palliative medicine   Palliative care as a public heath issue   The future of palliative medicine PART 2   Principles of bioethics   Ethics   Dignity PART 3   Dying in different cultures   Palliative care global initiatives PART 4   Undergraduate   Graduate   Postgraduate and continuing education   Public education PART 5   Challenges of research   The patient population   Research designs   Outcomes   Ethics in research   Practical tips for successful research   Audit and quality improvement PART 6   Standards of care   The engineering of organizational change   Financial issues in the delivery of palliative care   Organization and support of the multiprofessional / interdisciplinary team   Needs assessment for patient care   The palliative care consult team   Models for palliative care delivery   Home care   Day hospitals   Inpatient hospices   The palliative care unit   Combined care models PART 7   Patient assessment   Tools for pain and symptom assessment   Quality of life assessment PART 8   The pathophysiology of chronic pain   Causes & mechanisms of pain   Opioid analgesics   The assessment and management of opioid side effects   Adjuvant analgesic drugs   Alternative routes for systemic opiod delivery   Epidural & intrathecal administration   Topical administration of analgesics   Non-pharmacological and non-invasive management of pain   Pain in children   Pain in the elderly   Neuropathic pain   Bone pain   Incidental pain   Somatization and pain expression   Pain in patients with alcohol and drug dependence PART 9   Pathophysiology of anorexia-cachexia   Nutritional and phamacological management of cachexia   Nausea/vomiting   Constipation/diarrhea   Ascites   Jaundice   Bowel obstruction   The endoscopic treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms PART 10   The pathophysiology of fatigue   Assessment of fatigue   The role of physical function on fatigue   The treatment of fatigue PART 11   Dyspnea   Other respiratory symptoms PART 12   Depression/anxiety   Confusion/delirium   Sleeping disorders   Counseling   Hope PART 13   Dehydration and re-hydration   Fever and sweating   Pruritus   Infections   Pressure ulcers and wounds   Mouth care   Fistulas   The assessment and management of lymphedema PART 14   Hypercalcemia   Hemorrhage   Spinal cord compression   Superior venacava syndrome   Seizures   Acute pain syndromes   Suicide PART 15   Radiotherapy   Chemotherapy   Physical medicine and rehabilitation   Integrative and alternative medicine   AIDS   Neurological diseases   Congestive heart failure & other causes of terminal heart disease   Palliative care in children   Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease & other terminal respiratory conditions   Other infectious diseases   Practical aspects of palliative care delivery in the developing world   Prognostic indicators of survival   Palliative sedation PART 16   Physiotherapy and occupational therapy   Stress & burnout in health care givers   Communication in palliative care   Spiritual care   Family care   Advanced directives   Bereavement   Children of palliative care patients