Debate on Importance of Early Palliative Care in Chronic Illness Diagnosis Assessment Answer

Introduction

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished judges, fellow debaters, and esteemed audience members, today we gather here to discuss a matter of great significance in the field of healthcare. The topic for today’s debate is whether or not palliative care should be introduced at the point of diagnosis of a chronic illness. This particular topic holds great significance in Australia as this is something that has a notable impact on the lives of all those individuals who are suffering from one or the other chronic illness and their families.

To begin with, the concept of palliative care is usually associated with care provided at the end stages of an individual’s life. It focuses on the symptoms and the suffering related to severe illnesses (Sjöberg et al., 2021).

For a very long time, this form of care has been given to patients during the later stages of the disease in case of limited alternatives (Zeng et al., 2018). The affirmative team, however, believes that it is necessary that palliative care is introduced at the diagnosis stage to ensure that the patient receives comprehensive support (Sullivan et al., 2019). In addition to this, there is an acknowledgement of the fact that the diagnosis associated with a chronic illness can be distressing and overwhelming. (Hui et al., 2018). This holistic approach can significantly improve the well-being and overall quality of life of patients and their families (Saga et al., 2018).

Firstly, the introduction of palliative care will enable the management of symptoms and pain associated with chronic illnesses to a better extent (Swami & Case, 2018). For instance, a study by O’Mahony et al.(2021) revealed that individuals suffering from cancer, when provided with early palliative care, experienced lesser pain, fewer symptoms of depression and better living in comparison to the ones who received standard care. This highlights the positive impact of early palliative care intervention in managing symptoms effectively. Secondly, palliative care will also encourage honest and open communication during diagnosis (Rawlings et al., 2019).

A study by Yoo et al.(2020) found that patients receiving early palliative care showed a higher probability of discussing treatment preferences, which also involved end-of-life care options. Lastly, the integration of palliative care in the early stages can also lessen the burden on resources associated with healthcare (Zou et al., 2020). For example, a study by Bevins et al.(2021) showed that the incorporation of early palliative care intervention led to a reduction in the number of hospital admissions and visits to the emergency department for patients suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer. Therefore, palliative care can also contribute to a more efficient and cost-effective healthcare system by effectively managing symptoms and providing psychosocial support (Vernon et al., 2022).

In conclusion, introducing palliative care at the point of chronic illness diagnosis holds immense value in Australia today. By embracing a proactive and holistic approach to patient care, we can effectively manage symptoms, improve communication, optimise healthcare resources, and prioritise the well-being of individuals and their families.

References

Bevins, J., Bhulani, N., Goksu, S. Y., Sanford, N. N., Gao, A., Ahn, C., & Beg, M. S. (2021). Early palliative care is associated with reduced emergency department utilization in pancreatic cancer. American Journal of Clinical Oncology, 44(5), 181. https://doi.org/ 10.1097/COC.0000000000000802

Hui, D., Hannon, B. L., Zimmermann, C., & Bruera, E. (2018). Improving patient and caregiver outcomes in oncology: Team‐based, timely, and targeted palliative care. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 68(5), 356-376. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21490

O'Mahony, S., Kittelson, S., Barker, P. C., Delgado Guay, M. O., Yao, Y., Handzo, G. F.,& Wilkie, D. J. (2021). Association of race with end-of-life treatment preferences in older adults with cancer receiving outpatient palliative care. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 24(8), 1174-1182. https://doi.org/10.1089/jpm.2020.0542

Rawlings, D., Devery, K., & Poole, N. (2019). Improving quality in hospital end-of-life care: Honest communication, compassion and empathy. BMJ open quality, 8(2), e000669.http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2019-000669

Saga, Y., Enokido, M., Iwata, Y., & Ogawa, A. (2018). Transitions in palliative care: conceptual diversification and the integration of palliative care into standard oncology care. Chin Clin Oncol, 7(3), 32. https://cdn.amegroups.cn/journals/amepc/files/journals/12/articles/19976/public/19976-PB1-9366-R2.pdf

Sjöberg, M., Edberg, A. K., Rasmussen, B. H., & Beck, I. (2021). Documentation of older people’s end-of-life care in the context of specialised palliative care: A retrospective review of patient records. BMC Palliative Care, 20(1), 91. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-021-00771-w

Sullivan, D. R., Chan, B., Lapidus, J. A., Ganzini, L., Hansen, L., Carney, P. A., & Slatore, C. G. (2019). Association of early palliative care use with survival and place of death among patients with advanced lung cancer receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration. JAMA Oncology, 5(12), 1702-1709. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.3105

Swami, M., & Case, A. A. (2018). Effective palliative care: what is involved?. Oncology (08909091), 32(4). https://web.p.ebscohost.com/abstract

Vernon, E., Hughes, M. C., & Kowalczyk, M. (2022). Measuring effectiveness in community-based palliative care programs: A systematic review. Social Science & Medicine, 296, 114731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.114731

Yoo, S. H., Lee, J., Kang, J. H., Maeng, C. H., Kim, Y. J., Song, E. K., & Yun, Y. H. (2020). Association of illness understanding with advance care planning and end-of-life care preferences for advanced cancer patients and their family members. Supportive Care in Cancer, 28, 2959-2967. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-05174-5

Zeng, Y. S., Wang, C., Ward, K. E., & Hume, A. L. (2018). Complementary and alternative medicine in hospice and palliative care: A systematic review. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 56(5), 781-794. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.07.016

Zou, R. H., Kass, D. J., Gibson, K. F., & Lindell, K. O. (2020). The role of palliative care in reducing symptoms and improving quality of life for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: A review. Pulmonary Therapy, 6, 35-46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41030-019-00108-2

You Might Also Like:

Palliative Care Assignment Help

Understand The Basics With a Palliative Nursing Care Assignment Sample

Improving Palliative Care with Deep Learning Assignment Sample

Looking For Complete Assignment Sample Get It On WhatsApp