What Proportion of Terminally Ill and Dying People Require Specialist Palliative Care Services?. (11th September 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wilson, Donna M.; Woytowich, Boris
• Other Names: Toscani Franco Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International Journal of Palliative Care. Volume 2014(2014)
• Publication Date: 2014-09-11
• Subjects: Palliative treatment -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing; Palliative treatment; Palliative Care; Nursing; Periodicals; 616.029
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/529681
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2356-7074

Abstract

Abstract : Currently, around 55 million people die each year worldwide. That number is expected to increase rapidly with accelerating population aging. Despite growth in the number of palliative care specialists and specialist services in most countries, the prospect of an increasing number of terminally ill and dying persons is daunting. This paper attempts to answer the question: what proportion of terminally ill and dying persons require specialist palliative care services? To address this question and highlight which persons require specialist palliative care, the current state of access to specialist palliative care services and specialists in Canada and other countries is highlighted, along with available evidence-based information on specialist services utilization and the care needs of terminally ill and dying persons. Current evidence and information gaps reveal that this question cannot be answered now, but it should be answered in advance of a crisis of unmet end-of-life care needs with the rising death toll.