Publication: Palliative Care and Pain Management in a Resource-Limited Setting
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Palliative care is a vital component of healthcare that aims to alleviate the suffering
of patients with life-threatening conditions. This specialized medical care focuses
on managing symptoms, addressing social, emotional, and physical needs, and
enhancing the quality of life for patients and their families. Palliative care addresses
the patient’s medical, psychological, and spiritual requirements, and can be
used as the primary focus of care or in conjunction with curative therapies. Pain
management is a crucial aspect of palliative care, involving the control or reduction
of pain through medication, therapy, and other treatments. However, pain is
a subjective sensation, making quantification and effective relief challenging.
This review highlights the complex issues associated with pain management in
palliative care, emphasizing the need for improved training and accessible pain
management techniques, such as the widely recognized “Wong-Baker Face Pain
Scale”, particularly in resource-constrained environments like Nepal. The complex
nature of pain management in palliative care compromises patients’ quality of life,
influenced by factors like chemotherapy and terminal illness. Addressing this issue
is imperative, especially in areas like Nepal where there is a shortage of appropriate
training among medical personnel. Encouragingly, initiatives like mobile health
teams, smartphone apps, and the establishment of a Palliative Care Training Center
demonstrate progress in improving end-of-life care.
KEY WORDS
Health personnel, Nepal, Pain management, Palliative care
Description
Gautam A,1 Gautam A,2 Johnson S,3 Rahman FA4
1Queen Margaret University
Master of Public Health (MPH)
Queen Margaret University Drive, Musselburgh
East Lothian, EH21 6UU
Scotland, United Kingdom
2Emergency Department
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge
CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
3Kerala University of Health Sciences Medical College
P.O, Thrissur, Kerala 680596, India
4Sandwell and Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
B71 4HJ, United Kingdom
Keywords
Health personnel, Nepal, Pain management, Palliative care