Holism and a health-promoting approach to palliative care

Abstract

This article draws on Illich's definition of health and explores the perspective of facing death as a process of adaptation. Research into psychoneuroimmunology is discussed. This focuses on using one's own resources, which the author sees as a central tenet of holism. A key aspect of this approach is not only empowerment of patients, but also of nurses, allowing them to be self-aware, self-valuing and to practise self-care. The article mentions an educational strategy to encourage a health-promoting approach. This course uses the concept of holism as a framework for teaching and practice of palliative care.

Effects of a Guided Imagery Intervention on Stress in Hospitalized Pregnant Women

“…16 Imagery is an essential aspect of holistic nursing practice because it brings the natural powers of the mind into the process of health and healing. 81,82 As a relatively simple and cost-effective intervention, GI is a promising holistic intervention. 81,82 As a relatively simple and cost-effective intervention, GI is a promising holistic intervention.…”

An exploration of empowerment discourse within home-care nurses’ accounts of practice

“…The dominant emphasis has been on the former, as well as on enhancing individual capacities to control health and participate in care. As such, ideals of enhancing ‘patient empowerment’ and participation in care, treatment and decision‐making, have infused policy and practice in health‐care (Russell and Sander 1998; Lloyd 2000; Buckley 2002; Raudonis 2003; Miller and Ryndes 2005), along with, but to a lesser extent, similar ideals regarding family members (Russell and Sander 1998; Kellehear 1999; Pegg and Tan 2002; Richardson 2002; Amella 2003).…”

A critical analysis of health promotion and ‘empowerment’ in the context of palliative family care‐giving

“…Kellehear (1999, 77) proposed a health‐promoting approach to palliative care designed to ‘enhance a sense of control and support for those living with a serious life‐threatening illness’. Like Kellehear, others (Russell and Sander 1998a,b; Lloyd 2000; Buckley 2002; Raudonis 2003; Miller and Ryndes 2005) now advocate a health‐promoting approach in palliative care, often through involving patients more actively in their treatment and decision‐making. Movement towards palliative home care was even motivated in part by the perception that greater freedom and control could be provided in the home environment (Stajduhar and Davies 1998).…”

“…Within the context of palliative care nursing, empowerment is institutionalized in the movement towards partnership models of care with patients and families, and towards promoting patient and caregiver autonomy and participation in care, treatment, and decision‐making (e.g. Russell and Sander 1998a,b; Kellehear 1999; Lloyd 2000; Buckley 2002; Pegg and Tan 2002; Richardson 2002; Amella 2003). Overall, however, the emphasis appears to be on patient involvement; there is much less consideration of the specific benefits and implications of health‐promoting palliative care and empowerment for family caregivers.…”

“…Palliative family caregivers perform their work within the context of formal services, such as home‐care nursing, that are increasingly rooted within health‐promoting models. While until recently, palliative care and health promotion were viewed as opposite ideas, the broadness of the definition of ‘health’ as including ‘well‐being’ and ‘quality of life’ has been used by Kellehear (1999) and others (Russell and Sander 1998a,b; Lloyd 2000; Buckley 2002; Raudonis 2003; Miller and Ryndes 2005) to advocate for a ‘health‐promoting’ palliative care practice. While tending to advocate a variety of ways to enhance health and well‐being, the dominant emphasis in health promotion has been on strengthening the capabilities of individuals to control their health.…”