Communication in Palliative Care: Clear Practical Advice, Based on a Series of Real Case Studies

by Janet Dunphy

Overview

This practical, thought-provoking guide provides the unemotional, clear, and accurate advice necessary for communicating with patients in a palliative care setting – a pivotal aspect of being a palliative care expert that is so difficult to quantify and teach. It uses genuine anecdotes and case studies to bring theory to life and assist in everyday application.

The revised edition includes sections on the conversation about assisted dying and how it feels to be on the other side of clinical communication as a patient or carer.

Communication in Palliative Care is a wide-ranging, invaluable resource to palliative care professionals across all clinical settings.

Features:

• Offers the lessons learned over a lifetime of care in practice from diagnosis into bereavement
• Addresses the topics of daily concern to palliative care professionals and carers working in oncology or with non-malignant disease and with the elderly across all clinical settings
• Presents a succinct summary of points and lessons from each case study

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781032547572
Publisher:	CRC Press
Publication date:	10/28/2024
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	166
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Janet Dunphy qualified as a nurse in 1980. She has spent over 30 years working, studying, and teaching as a clinical nurse specialist in palliative care. Her clinical experience spans both the NHS and voluntary sector and includes hospital and community roles.

Table of Contents

Dedication.
Foreword to the first Edition.
Foreword to the second Edition.
About the author.
Acknowledgements.

1. Introduction: a note from the author. 2. Relationships. 3. Being a professional. 4. Assessment skills. 5. Diagnosis. 6. Treatment. 7. The impact of serious illness. 8. Confirmation of a poor prognosis. 9. Key ethical issues in communication. 10. The specifics of advance care planning. 11. Breaking bad news within palliative care. 12. The dying phase. 13. Assisted Dying. 14. It can happen to you. 15. Frequently asked questions. 16. Looking after you. 17. Conclusion.
Index.

Editorial Reviews

'There is a wide breadth of subject matter, including refreshingly clear guidance on communication challenges around resuscitation, nutrition, the possibility of fatal haemorrhage and end-of-life planning. In addition, the author offers guidance on ethical principles, futility, cancer clinical trials and managing interprofessional conflict. Key themes emerge, notably the importance of applying simple principles in the face of complexity and of professionalism. The emotional aspects of communication are sensitively covered.' Claire Bates, Consultant in Palliative Medicine, Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, UK 'There are a few books now available, offering to teach you the fundamentals of communication in palliative care, but this one stands out. Straight forward, there are no pages of theory here. Eminently practical, born of years of use, yet kind and caring. Personal experience and clinical anecdotes from many years of palliative care illuminate her teaching. If you are new to the field, or you are looking for a primer in palliative care communication, you could do much worse than to learn from Janet Dunphy.' Roger Woodruff, International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care News; November 2012

"There are a number of books available offering to teach you the fundamentals of communication in palliative care, but this one stands out...Eminently practical, born of years of experience, yet kind and caring. I would be happy to recommend this book to someone looking for a primer in palliative care communication..." Roger Woodruff, www.hospicecare.com, May 2018

From the Publisher