Context: Between 1998 and 2021, the Open Society Foundations (OSF) network invested around US$50 million in supporting the emerging field of palliative care worldwide, funding different approaches and interventions to advance its objective of putting palliative care on the global public health agenda.
Objective: To describe six approaches that were instrumental to the successes of Open Society Foundations' support in building the global field of palliative care. A robust discussion of lessons learnt is unfortunately not possible because Open Society Foundations did not commission a rigorous evaluation of the impacts of its investments.
Methods: This article describes these six approaches: Investing in versatile palliative care leaders at national and regional level; investing in palliative care champions within the OSF network; proactively engaging the World Health Organization (WHO) in efforts to promote palliative care; developing tools and skills to improve palliative care financing; using a human rights-based approach; and supporting self-advocacy by people with palliative care needs.
Results: Deep, long-term investments in national and regional champions from the palliative care community and OSF's own network built palliative care leaders with well-rounded skills, knowledge and opportunities to develop their own networks. The active engagement and involvement of the WHO in efforts to advance palliative care enhanced the credibility of palliative care as a discipline as well its champions, whereas the human rights approach resulted in more diverse strategies to overcome barriers to palliative care. The focus on palliative care financing and self-advocacy showed significant promise for impact.
Discussion: The approaches and strategies described helped a nascent palliative care field develop into a health service that is increasingly integrated into public health systems. Other funders and national governments can build on OSF's long term support for the palliative care field and support further integration of palliative care within public health to increase access.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.08.020 | DOI Listing |
Effective communication is crucial in pediatric palliative care and is essential to facilitate shared decision making between families and the health care team. This study explored the communication preferences of caregivers and health care specialists in Central-Eastern Europe, a region with unique cultural and health care dynamics. Through qualitative interviews, key communication style preferences and barriers were identified.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnesth Analg
January 2025
Fellow Pain and Palliative Care, Department of Anesthesiology Universidad CES Medellín,
Melanoma Manag
December 2024
Supportive Care Dep, Institut Curie, Paris, France.
Metastatic uveal melanoma (UM) patients often initially present with limited symptoms despite a poor prognosis, complicating communication with patients and caregivers. Early Together (NCT04728113) is a randomized Phase III trial that integrates early palliative care through systematic joint visits involving the palliative care team and the medical oncologist, compared with standard oncological care, in 162 metastatic UM patients beginning systemic treatment. This collaboration aims to enhance patient functioning, improve quality of life and facilitate coping mechanisms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Qual Health Care
January 2025
Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, No. 666 Buzih Road, Taichung City 40601, Taiwan.
Background: In Taiwan, as the population ages, palliative care services (PCS) have expanded significantly to include comprehensive benefit plans for critically ill individuals, supported by reimbursements from the National Health Insurance program. However, incorporating palliative care into the medical management of these patients presents several challenges. We aim to evaluate the effects of palliative care interventions on medical resources in end-of-life scenarios, to promote earlier palliative care access and provide high-quality healthcare services for patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast Cancer Res Treat
January 2025
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Purpose: Individuals with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) may live with their disease for many years. We initiated the Johns Hopkins Hope at Hopkins Clinic to assess the needs and optimize the care of these patients.
Patients And Methods: Patients with MBC who agreed to participate in the Clinic in addition to usual care completed patient-reported outcome (PRO) surveys.
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