Key Concepts in Palliative Care
- Moyra A Baldwin - University of Chester, UK
- Jan Woodhouse - University of Chester, UK
Key Concepts in Palliative Care provides just this in a compact, fifty-concept guide to the field. Taking account of the government's "End of Life Care Strategy", contributors set out the key issues affecting practice across a range of health and social care contexts.
The book covers topics ranging from dying and death to symptom management and spiritual care, backed up with practical examples. Each entry comprises:
o a snapshot definition of the topic
o key points
o a discussion of the main debates
o links to practice through thought-provoking case histories, and
o suggestions for further reading.
Key Concepts in Palliative Care is an ideal text and handy source of reference for health and social care professionals who are developing their knowledge and skills in palliative care.
A good book which considers the wider palliative care issues - not just cancer.
Useful reference book for pre-registration student nurses.
A well written and useful book covering important aspects of palliative care in a concise and understandable manner.
Excellent text that will be adopted as key reading to the students. User friendly in layout and comprehensive content
A good starting point for anyone interested in palliative care. The book provides an introduction into a range of issues, debates and practicalities associated with palliative care.
This gem of a book sets out 50 important concepts of palliative care in an innovative and highly accessible way. It encompasses all aspects of care across the life span including symptom control, end of life care issues, the needs of patients and carers as well as pertinent legal and ethical issues. Contributors, reflecting the aims of the book, include many well known experts in the field of palliative care from nursing, medicine, education, law, ethics and social care. In each chapter a working definition of each concept is clearly set out and importantly, an example is given of how this may be applied in practice. This book may be regarded as the definitive ‘Enquire Within’ for any aspect of palliative care and, as such, will be an invaluable addition to the bookshelf or library of any practitioner, educationalist and researcher working in the field of palliative care.
This is an excellent book as an introduction to palliative care, and provides students with a good foundation for developing their knowledge and understanding of end of life care.
Other books covered topics in greater detail.
This excellent text book meets the needs of year three critical analysis for care module which covers long term illness and palliative care as well as organ donation. This book has been well written and is suitable for pre-registration nurse training.
This book from its title suggests it is a resource textbook for students. As a basic introduction to the key concepts in palliative care it ‘does what it says on the tin’ giving students a place from which to start their own reading and research.
The book uses a simple and effective style throughout based on four headings: Definition, key points, discussion and practical application of the concept. These sections are followed by suggestions for further reading.
At 50 topics the book is certainly comprehensive though the short chapters can appear somewhat superficial with limited and sometimes dated references. However as a starter for students they serve their purpose. The chapter on spirituality for example makes no reference to professional journals nor does it draw on the wealth of current material available from within palliative care and healthcare chaplaincy sources that would give a somewhat different perspective on the topic.
Overall this is a book to point students in the right direction and which teaching staff could use as a resource to encourage students in their study and practice of palliative care.
