The public health strategy for palliative care Journal Article


Authors: Stjernsward, J.; Foley, K. M.; Ferris, F. D.
Article Title: The public health strategy for palliative care
Abstract: The quality of life of at least 100 million people would have improved - if today's knowledge of palliative care was accessible to everyone. A Public Health Strategy (PHS) offers the best approach for translating new knowledge and skills into evidence-based, cost-effective interventions that can reach everyone in the population. For PHSs to be effective, they must be incorporated by governments into all levels of their health care systems and owned by the community. This strategy will be most effective if it involves the society through collective and social action. The World Health Organization (WHO) pioneered a PHS for integrating palliative care into a country's health care system. It included advice and guidelines to governments on priorities and how to implement both national palliative care programs and national cancer control programs where palliative care will be one of the four key pillars of comprehensive cancer control. The WHO PHS addresses 1) appropriate policies; 2) adequate drug availability; 3) education of policy makers, health care workers, and the public; and 4) implementation of palliative care services at all levels throughout the society. This approach has demonstrated that it provides an effective strategy for integrating/establishing palliative care into a country.
Keywords: palliative care; education; public health; policy; implementation; drug availability
Journal Title: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume: 33
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0885-3924
Publisher: Elsevier Inc.  
Date Published: 2007-01-01
Start Page: 486
End Page: 493
Language: English
ACCESSION: WOS:000246745500002
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2007.02.016
PROVIDER: wos
PUBMED: 17482035
Notes: --- - Article - "Source: Wos"
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  1. Kathleen M Foley
    200 Foley