Palliative care is a specialised approach to care that aims to improve the quality of life of people facing life-threatening or serious chronic illness, and of their families, by preventing and relieving suffering. It addresses physical symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, and fatigue, alongside the psychological,…
Palliative care is a specialised approach to care that aims to improve the quality of life of people facing life-threatening or serious chronic illness, and of their families, by preventing and relieving suffering. It addresses physical symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, and fatigue, alongside the psychological, social, and spiritual distress that accompany advanced disease, and it supports patients in living as actively as possible while assisting families through illness and bereavement. Although closely associated with end-of-life and cancer care, palliative care is increasingly recognised as relevant across many conditions and stages, including chronic and non-communicable diseases and the care of frail and older patients, and is most effective when introduced early and delivered alongside disease-directed treatment. It is provided by multidisciplinary teams in hospitals, community settings, hospices, and at home, often in collaboration with general practice and primary care, and it encompasses communication, advance care planning, and coordination of services. Complementary, psychosocial, and creative interventions, including music therapy and community-based support, may contribute to comfort and well-being for patients and caregivers. Research relevant to this topic examines symptom relief and quality of life in serious illness, the needs of patients and caregivers in oncological, geriatric, and chronic-disease settings, the organisation of community and end-of-life care, and supportive interventions that ease the burden of advanced disease.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 19 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Palliative Care, linking to each citing work.