Peer-reviewed article
Nurturing Socioculturally and Medically Appropriate Palliative Care Delivery: Lessons Learned by Israeli Medical Faculty
Piret Paal, Anne Müller, Woukelyne Gil, Gil Goldzweig, Frank Elsner ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines palliative care systems in Israel through interviews with medical faculty. It describes how palliative care is perceived as an integrative service for patients of all ages, including children, and explores cultural, religious and organisational factors. The research highlights the importance of nurses, multidisciplinary teams and person-centered approaches in delivering palliative care.
Key points
- Israel has a national policy and defined standards for palliative care
- Participants believe palliative care should be available to all patients including children at any stage of illness
- Religious, spiritual and cultural aspects are important considerations in palliative care delivery
- Nurses play a special role in palliative care teams
- Multidisciplinary teamwork and person-centered approaches are seen as supporting better care
Limitations
This study describes perceptions and opinions of medical faculty rather than measuring actual child health outcomes or evaluating a specific intervention. It does not assess whether children with life-limiting conditions are actually receiving appropriate palliative care or the impact on their well-being.
Abstract
Israel is one of the few countries worldwide with a national policy and defined standards of palliative care (PC); its culture is highly diverse and more traditionally oriented in comparison with Western countries. This study describes the current state of PC in Israel through examination of: (1) its current status, self-image and structural factors; (2) its relation to cultural and political characteristics; and (3) the chances, goals and obstacles of advancing PC in Israel. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at all five public medical faculties in Israel from November 2017 to February 2018. The following findings are reported: (1) definition of palliative care, (2) multidisciplinary approach, (3) special role of nurses, (4) personal perceptions of death, (5) understanding the role of medicine, (6) specialty palliative medicine, (7) religious, spiritual and cultural aspects, (8) political and economic aspects, (9) obstacles and weaknesses, and (10) prospects and goals of palliative care. Participants perceive PC as an integrative healthcare service that should be available to all patients, including children and their families, at any stage of illness. They internalize that PC principles apply regardless of ethnic, cultural, and religious background. Utilizing nurses' leadership, enhancing multidisciplinary teamwork, and person-centered approach, supports better PC to more people.