Palliative Care and Pain Management in a Resource-Limited Setting

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.