Prognostic understanding in the terminally ill Book Section
| Authors: | Polacek, L. C.; Walsh, L. E.; Duva, M. M.; George, L. S.; Applebaum, A. J. |
| Editors: | Chochinov, H.; Breitbart, W. |
| Article/Chapter Title: | Prognostic understanding in the terminally ill |
| Abstract: | For patients with serious or life-limiting illnesses, providing high-quality care to reduce burden and distress while improving quality of life throughout the disease course is of the highest importance. Prognostic understanding is a complex, multidimensional construct that has gained increased attention among palliative care researchers and clinicians over the past two decades, particularly for its role in end-of-life decision-making and its impact on patients' psychological well-being. Clinicians and researchers in Western countries are increasingly aware of the complexity and individualized nature of prognostic health information preferences, prognostic understanding, and end-of-life decision-making. This chapter provides an overview of progonstic understanding across various diseases which commonly utilize palliative care, although cancer will be a primary focus as it encompasses a majority of the research literature. It reviews how the construct has evolved, as well as current research into its multidimensional structure. The chapter pays particular attention to the relationship between prognostic understanding and psychological outcomes, coping skills, patient-provider communication, how prognostic understanding may be improved, and cultural nuances in patients' understanding of prognosis. It concludes with recommendations for future directions in both research and clinical practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved) |
| Keywords: | palliative care; quality of life; decision-making; cancer; patient-provider communication; coping skills; psychological well-being; prognostic understanding; high-quality care; life-limiting illnesses |
| Book Title: | Handbook of Psychiatry in Palliative Medicine: Psychosocial Care of the Terminally Ill. 3rd ed |
| ISBN: | 9780197583838 |
| Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
| Publication Place: | New York, NY |
| Date Published: | 2023-01-01 |
| Start Page: | 303 |
| End Page: | 314 |
| Language: | English |
| ACCESSION: | 2023-22407-021 |
| PROVIDER: | Ovid Technologies |
| PROVIDER: | psycinfo |
| DOI: | 10.1093/med/9780197583838.003.0021 |
| DOI/URL: | |
| Notes: | Book Chapter: 21, located in "Part III - Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care" -- Source: APA PsycInfo |
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