Multicultural Perspectives on Health and Wellbeing/Palliative care

The World Health Organization defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness. Palliative care can prevent and relief suffering through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual. A team approach is used in palliative care to support patients and their caregivers and offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death.

Medicine Man, Performing His Mysteries over a Dying Man

Our experiences of living, illness and dying and are shaped by many factors, including our beliefs, culture, values, and ethnicity. Likewise, our support for a person with a life threatening illness are also influenced by these factors. This week we will explore the impact of cultural diversity on the provision of end-of-life care and its related services.

Lecture

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5PbDKALKaPRazZxSnlVZ0kyeDQ/view?pref=2&pli=1

Resources

Readings

Broom, A., Good, P., Kirby, E., & Lwin, Z. (2013). Negotiating palliative care in the context of culturally and linguistically diverse patients. Internal Medicine Journal, 43(9), 1043-1046. doi: 10.1111/imj.12244

Clark, K., & Phillips, J. (2010). End of life care: The importance of culture and ethnicity. Australian Family Physician, 39(4), 210-213.

Sneesby, L., Satchell, R., Good, P., & van der Riet, P. (2011). Death and dying in Australia: perceptions of a Sudanese community. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 67(12), 2696-2702. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2011.05775.x

Shanmugasundaram, S., & O'Connor, M. (2009). Palliative Care Services for Indian Migrants in Australia: Experiences of the Family of Terminally Ill Patients. Indian Journal of Palliative Care, 15(1), 76-83. doi: 10.4103/0973-1075.53589

Huang, Y.-L., Yates, P,, & Prior, D. (2009). Accommodating the Diverse Cultural Needs of Cancer Patients and Their Families in Palliative Care. Cancer Nursing January/February, 32(1), E12-E21.

Sepúlveda, C., Marlin, A., Yoshida, T., & Ullrich, A. (2002). Palliative Care: The World Health Organization's Global Perspective. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 24(2), 91-96. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0885-3924(02)00440-2

Fallowfield, L. J., Jenkins, V. A., & Beveridge, H. A. (2002). Truth may hurt but deceit hurts more: communication in palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 16(4), 297-303. doi: 10.1191/0269216302pm575oa

Websites

http://start2talk.org.au/

https://fightdementia.org.au/support-and-services/i-have-dementia/advance-care-planning