title: Communication issues and advance care planning.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide practical strategies to enhance the quality of communication in the palliative and end-of-life medical care settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published articles, textbooks, and reports.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The components of effective and compassionate care at the end of life require successful communication with patients, families, and members of the health care team. Unfortunately, few health care professionals are formally trained in communication skills.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurses who possess self-awareness and are skilled in effective communication practices are integral to the provision of high-quality palliative care for patients and families coping with advanced malignancies.
authors.affiliation: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, USA. cmoore@skidmore.edu
authors.forename: Crystal Dea
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D032722:Advance Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001364:Awareness; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009633:Nonverbal Communication; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012660:Semantics; D012944:Social Support; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration