Communications by professionals in palliative care.
In this article, the author first examines the ageist bias that is prevalent in clinics today. The author then reviews the basic communication principles and strategies that can help clinicians make their conversations with patients more focused and meaningful, thereby preparing patients and their family caregivers to make decisions in a crisis and to engage in planning for end-of-life care as early and intensively as possible.
Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Hematology-Oncology, 55 Fruit Street, Yawkey 9-A, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: lschapira@partners.org.
Lidia
L
Schapira
D032722:Advance Care Planning; D000368:Aged; D063506:Ageism / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D056348:Emotional Intelligence; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations
Caregiver; Clinical practice; Communication; End of life; Family ageism; Geriatric; Palliative care; Uncertainty