Virtual support and its benefits and challenges for palliative, hospice patients and their families.
Muchiri, Purity Wairimu (2023)
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023120835301
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2023120835301
Tiivistelmä
Globally, the dramatic increase in life-threatening illnesses and disorders has increased the demand for
end-of-life care and bereavement assistance in nearly every country. Providers of palliative care have
struggled to satisfy these demands. Numerous public health authorities in many countries tasked with
disease management have lately restricted visits to patients in hospitals. As a result, in most situations,
people die alone. This literature review aims to explore and describe the benefits, efficacy, and
limitations of the application of virtual systems in the palliative line of medicine. Due to the intricacy of
the patient's sickness, palliative care professionals find it difficult to give services to their clients. Still,
the industry must try to get over this obstacle. Due to different constraints that limit direct interaction
between patients and the outside world and others, patients often die alone in certain circumstances.
Because of this, it has become overly important for hospice facilities to device ways of helping terminally
ill patients to have a convenient setting when undergoing their treatment. Prioritizing virtual assistance
and a virtual interface between patients, carers, and families during end-of-life care should also be a
top priority for health institutions. Compared to in-person consultations, virtual platforms have been
recognized as appropriate for outpatient and inpatient patients for the longest period. Virtual platforms
have long been regarded as the most reliable alternative to in-person consultations for inpatient and
home-based palliative care. Whilst virtual technology is quite effective in aiding patients in palliative
care, few facilities have used technology to help patients deal with daily obstacles such as pain and
concern over their health. When patients are alone in a hospital or hospice, a virtual inpatient and
outpatient palliative care program may provide them with a unique opportunity to receive and enjoy
positive interactions with their caregivers and families. This narrative review explores the benefits that
can be derived from virtual palliative care regarding these crucial issues. The review will also highlight
shortcomings while trying to address the challenges encountered.
Keywords: virtual, hospice, inpatient, outpatient, palliative care, telemedicine, video conferencing
end-of-life care and bereavement assistance in nearly every country. Providers of palliative care have
struggled to satisfy these demands. Numerous public health authorities in many countries tasked with
disease management have lately restricted visits to patients in hospitals. As a result, in most situations,
people die alone. This literature review aims to explore and describe the benefits, efficacy, and
limitations of the application of virtual systems in the palliative line of medicine. Due to the intricacy of
the patient's sickness, palliative care professionals find it difficult to give services to their clients. Still,
the industry must try to get over this obstacle. Due to different constraints that limit direct interaction
between patients and the outside world and others, patients often die alone in certain circumstances.
Because of this, it has become overly important for hospice facilities to device ways of helping terminally
ill patients to have a convenient setting when undergoing their treatment. Prioritizing virtual assistance
and a virtual interface between patients, carers, and families during end-of-life care should also be a
top priority for health institutions. Compared to in-person consultations, virtual platforms have been
recognized as appropriate for outpatient and inpatient patients for the longest period. Virtual platforms
have long been regarded as the most reliable alternative to in-person consultations for inpatient and
home-based palliative care. Whilst virtual technology is quite effective in aiding patients in palliative
care, few facilities have used technology to help patients deal with daily obstacles such as pain and
concern over their health. When patients are alone in a hospital or hospice, a virtual inpatient and
outpatient palliative care program may provide them with a unique opportunity to receive and enjoy
positive interactions with their caregivers and families. This narrative review explores the benefits that
can be derived from virtual palliative care regarding these crucial issues. The review will also highlight
shortcomings while trying to address the challenges encountered.
Keywords: virtual, hospice, inpatient, outpatient, palliative care, telemedicine, video conferencing