title: Psychosocial care and the role of clinical psychologists in palliative care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the works of clinical psychologists in palliative care in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical psychologists who were working or had experience in palliative care were recruited. A 2-stage qualitative method study was conducted, including semistructured interviews and a focus group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following 4 main themes were identified: (1) the essential nature of the psychologists' care were caring and company; (2) the dynamic process included psychological assessment, intervention, and evaluation based on psychological knowledge; (3) they needed to modify their care using an integrative framework, by setting practical goals and using techniques with flexibility; and (4) they faced external and internal challenges in this field.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical psychologists have beneficial contributions but have to modify psychosocial care based on the patients' needs and clinical situations.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Gerontology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan City, Taiwan, Republic of China shengyu@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Sheng-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei-Chun
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: I-Mei
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006738:Hospices; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011584:Psychology; D013624:Taiwan; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Taiwan; clinical psychologists; end-of-life care; hospice; palliative care; psychosocial care