title: Self-determination: analysis of the concept and implications for research in palliative care.
abstract: This paper analyzes the evolution and the definition, current use, and application of the concept of self-determination in palliative care research and practice. Undertaken as a foundation for the development of a palliative care research program, the analysis considers selected historical, bioethical, legal, clinical, and relevant medical and nursing health-care literature on adults with chronic and terminal illness. Based on a synthesis of the literature, a conceptual definition is proposed and ways of integrating the concept of self-determination into palliative care intervention research are identified.
authors.affiliation: Darmouth Medical School, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Section of Palliative Medicine, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756, USA. marie.bakitas@dartmouth.edu
authors.forename: Marie A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bakitas
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000639:trends; D010166:Palliative Care; D026684:Personal Autonomy