Journal of Community & Public Health Nursing
Open Access

Palliative neurology; Patient; Nursing

Introduction

Palliative neurology involves managing symptoms such as pain, nausea, vomiting, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. The goal of palliative neurology is to alleviate suffering, improve quality of life, and provide support to patients and their families. This approach also involves communication and shared decision-making with patients and their families about their care goals and treatment options [1, 2]

Methods

Palliative neurology is an interdisciplinary approach involving a team of healthcare professionals, including neurologists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and chaplains. These professionals work together to provide comprehensive care and support to patients and their families. They focus on managing symptoms, providing emotional and spiritual support, and helping patients and their families navigate the complex medical system.

In the United States, palliative neurology is a relatively new field, but it has been gaining recognition in recent years. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) established a Palliative Care Section in 2010 to promote education, research, and advocacy for palliative care in neurology. The section focuses on integrating palliative care into neurological practice, providing education and training to neurologists, and promoting research on the effectiveness of palliative care in neurological conditions [3, 4].

In Europe, palliative care has been a more established field, and palliative neurology has been integrated into the healthcare system in many countries. In the United Kingdom, palliative care is provided through a national network of hospices and community-based services. The European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) Neurology Taskforce was established in 2011 to promote the integration of palliative care into neurological practice and to provide education and training to healthcare professionals.

In developing countries, access to palliative care can be limited, and the focus is often on providing basic medical care. However, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care, including palliative neurology, in improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses. The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) is working to promote palliative care worldwide, including in developing countries. The IAHPC provides education and training to healthcare professionals, advocates for palliative care policies, and supports the development of palliative care services in low-resource settings [5, 6].

One of the challenges of palliative neurology is the lack of awareness and understanding of the field among healthcare professionals, patients, and their families. Many people may associate palliative care with endof- life care, but palliative care is much broader than that. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and can help patients and their families manage symptoms, make treatment decisions, and improve their quality of life [7, 8].

Discussion

Another challenge is the lack of reimbursement for palliative care services in many healthcare systems. Palliative care requires a teambased approach and can be time-intensive, which can be a barrier to providing these services in a fee-for-service model. However, there is growing recognition of the cost-effectiveness of palliative care in reducing hospitalizations, improving patient outcomes, and reducing overall healthcare costs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, palliative neurology is an important field that provides comfort and care to people with neurological conditions worldwide. It involves a team-based approach and focuses on managing symptoms, providing emotional and spiritual support [9,10].

Acknowledgement

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.

1. Derraik JGB (2002) the pollution of the marine environment by plastic debris: a review. Mar Poll Bull 44: 842-852.

Indexed at  , Crossref

2. Barnes DKA, Galgani F, Thompson RC, Barlaz M (2009) Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Phil Trans R Soc B 364: 1985-1998.

Indexed at, Crossref

3. Thompson RC, Swan SH, Moore CJ, vom Saal FS (2009) our plastic age. Phil Trans R Soc B 364: 1973-1976.

Indexed at, Crossref

4. Avio CG, Gorbi S, Regoli F (2017) Plastics and microplastics in the oceans: from emerging pollutants to emerged threat. Mar Environ Res 128: 2-11.

Indexed at, Crossref

5. Jambeck JR, Geyer R, Wilcox C, Siegler TR, Perryman M, et al. (2015) Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean. Science 347: 768-771.

Indexed at, Crossref

6. Law KL (2017) Plastics in the marine environment. Annu Rev MarSci 9: 205-229.

Indexed at  , Crossref

7. Andrady AL (2011) Microplastics in the marine environment. Mar Poll Bull 62: 1596-1605.

Indexed at, Crossref

8. Cole M, Lindeque P, Halsband C, Galloway TS (2011) Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: a review. Mar Poll Bull 62:2588-2597.

Indexed at, Crossref

9. Van Cauwenberghe L, Vanreusel A, Mees J, Janssen CR (2013) Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments. Environ Poll 182: 495-499.

Indexed at, Crossref

10. Obbard RW, Sadri S, Wong YQ, Khitun AA, Baker I (2014) Global warming releases microplastic legacy frozen in Arctic Sea ice. Earth's Future 2:315-320.

Crossref