A multidisciplinary approach to the delivery of palliative care
General Medicine, 2023, 25(3), 48-54.
B. Borisova1, Z. Karamitev2, T. Cherkezov3
1 Faculty of Public Health „Prof. Dr. Tsekomir Vodenicharov“, Medical University – Sofia
2 Hospice „Dobrolyubie“ ‒ Kardzhali
3 Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment „Dr. Atanas Dafovski“ ‒ Kardzhali
Abstract. Palliative care is an important public health problem in all European countries. The provision of palliative care must be integrated into the overall complex of social care, requiring multidisciplinary approaches. The approach to providing integrated health and social services involves the creation and integration of institutional and home-based services. Hospice care is the best solution for persons in the terminal phase of an illness housed in other social institutions, they are flexible and comprehensive. In 2002, as a result of the continued increase in the number of cancer patients and the rapid aging of the world’s population, WHO expanded the scope of palliative care. The goal of assistance is no longer only for the patients, but also for their families. So palliative care is in the direction of social and health activities aimed at improving the quality of life for the benefit of the terminally ill and their families.
Key words: integrative approach, multidisciplinary team, professional competencies, quality care, universality
Address for correspondence: Doc. Boryana Borisova, PhD, e-mail: boryana_ves_borisova@abv.bg