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Terminology: the historical perspective, evolution and current usage--room for confusion?
1St Columba's Hospice Chair of Palliative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Cancer Research Centre, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road South, Edinburgh, UK. marie.fallon@ed.ac.uk
European Journal of Cancer (Oxford, England : 1990)
|April 9, 2008
Summary
Modern palliative care, originating in 1967, has evolved beyond hospice to include hospital teams. Challenges remain in consistent terminology and addressing significant gaps in patient care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Specialties
- Healthcare Delivery
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Modern palliative care originated with St Christopher's Hospice in 1967, initially termed 'terminal care'.
- This model influenced the development of multidisciplinary clinical care, teaching, and research in palliative medicine.
- The establishment of hospital Palliative Care Teams and the formalization of Palliative Medicine as a subspecialty marked further evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To trace the historical development and evolution of palliative care services.
- To identify the challenges in terminology and evidence base within the expanding field of palliative care.
- To highlight the existing gaps in patient care within the palliative care continuum.
Main Methods:
- Historical review of palliative care development.
- Analysis of terminology evolution and consistency.
- Identification of research and clinical practice gaps.
Main Results:
- Palliative care has expanded significantly beyond its hospice origins, with increasing non-hospice services.
- Inconsistent terminology and a slowly developing evidence base present ongoing challenges.
- Substantial gaps in patient care persist despite the field's expansion.
Conclusions:
- Palliative care has evolved into a recognized medical subspecialty with a growing evidence base.
- Establishing clear and consistent terminology is crucial for advancing palliative care.
- Addressing identified gaps in patient care is essential for improving outcomes in palliative medicine.
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