-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
J Alton Croker, Sara Sanders, The Role of Cannabis in Improving Pain and Symptom Management in End-of-Life Care, Public Policy & Aging Report, Volume 29, Issue 3, 2019, Pages 95–100, https://doi.org/10.1093/ppar/prz014
Close - Share Icon Share
Extract
Introduction
How can we improve pain management at the end of life? End-of-life (EOL) care begins once patients have stopped treatment to cure or control their disease, and is inclusive of medical, emotional, social, and spiritual support for patients and their families (National Institute on Aging, 2017). However, individuals may be thinking about EOL care as their symptoms decline and they reconcile the reality that they are dying. EOL care is most concerned with minimizing pain and suffering through symptom management, and helping a person adjust to a new state of living as a dying individual. The EOL approach finds support among patients, survivors, families, and health-care providers, as most everyone identifies “pain free” and emotional wellbeing as essential elements of a “good death” (Meier et al., 2016). Many also define a good death as dying with dignity, at a place of one’s own choosing: whether it be at home surrounded by family or alone in another setting (Singer, Martin, & Kelner, 1999). We also look for our health-care providers to assist in our EOL planning, provide information about EOL options, educate us about advanced directives, and promote self-determination. Despite this, far too many Americans die without sufficient pain management and in places not of their own choosing (Deandrea, Montanari, Moja, & Apolone, 2008; Reynolds, Drew, & Dunwoody, 2013). Of the 1.43 million Medicare beneficiaries who enrolled in hospice care, the greatest proportion (nearly 30% of enrollments prior to death) were enrolled for less than seven days, limiting the ability of these patients to access the full treatment process and begin the comfort process that is the foundation of EOL care (National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, 2018).
