Psychosocial Oncology And Palliative Care In Hong Kong

As the evidence-base for clinical practice in the management of life-threatening diseases and care at the end of life increases, it is apparent that psychosocial factors play a most profound role, influencing outcomes at every level from quality of life and satisfaction with clinical services through to duration of survival and mortality. This book documents some, but by no means all, of the developments that have occurred in the past decade in the area of psychosocial oncology and palliative care in Hong Kong. Contributions describing interventions by practitioners involved in service development in nursing, social work and clinical psychology, are complemented by chapters describing academic research and theoretical perspectives. The unique cultural mix of Hong Kong is given rich emphasis in the adaptations made by practitioners and academics to the interventions and theoretical issues outlined. As both a documentation of the efforts of some of those who helped psychosocial oncology and palliative care evolve in Hong Kong, and as a reflection of the need to more critically evaluate the impact of intervention efforts in health care, this volume provides a valuable resource. Nurses, social workers, psychologists and doctors involved in delivering or planning cancer treatment or palliative care will find this book useful. This book challenges many attitudes prevalent in Hong Kong and will, we hope, begin to break some of the taboos that continue to generate unnecessary suffering among the people cared for by our health care systems. The valuable experience documented in these pages can help others build the next generation of services to those with life-threatening illness and those at the end of life.

"A diagnosis of cancer devastates families, commonly precipitating an existential crisis and challenges of adjustment. A fundamental disruption occurs to the psychosocial aspects of one's life, with a loss of predictability, disruption of ambition and plans, and the heralding of uncertainty. Families are affected as a unit of care rather than as isolated individuals, raising unique communication challenges. Consideration is required as to each individual and their family's strengths and vulnerabilities, coping and capacity to adjust to information"--

One of the most challenging roles of the psycho-oncologist is to help guide terminally-ill patients through the physical, psychological, and spiritual aspects of the dying process. Patients with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening illnesses are at increased risk for the development of major psychiatric complications, and have an enormous burden of both physical and psychological symptoms. This title guides the psycho-oncologist through the most salient aspects of effective psychiatric care of patients with advanced illnesses.

Oncology and Palliative Social Work: Psychosocial Care for People Coping with Cancer illustrates the need for integrating early palliative care for patients with cancer and the important role social workers have in providing psychosocial support services across the cancer trajectory. There is a convergence of oncology and palliative social work specialties in the delivery of comprehensive, culturally-congruent, whole person cancer care. OPSW reflects the collective knowledge, skills, clinical experience and perspectives of a diverse group of interprofessional contributors, including best practices, emerging trends, and priorities in psychosocial oncology, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this evolving landscape. The volume is divided into four sections, each with five to eight thematically connected chapters. Topics include: diagnosing and treating cancer; equity, racism, cultural competence, and cultural humility; social determinants of health; cancer care amid pandemics, disasters and other traumatic events; survivorship, integrative programs, lifestyle and rehabilitation; innovative models in palliative care in oncology; the future direction of psychosocial oncology and palliative care, including research; psychosocial aspects of cancer; pain, symptom, and side effect management; a novel collaborative care model for people living with severe mental illness; interprofessional spiritual care; informal cancer caregivers; palliative and hospice care at the end of life; loss, grief, and bereavement; underrepresented, underserved, and vulnerable populations; ethical and legal issues; professional development and sustainability; credentialing, certification, and continuing education; technology; social work leadership skills; interprofessional practice; international oncology and palliative social work; and, strategies for guiding best practices for the future.

Different global healthcare challenges bring threats to the healthcare system. Like other developed countries, Hong Kong is also focusing on how to manage the ageing population, how to meet the rising public expectations, and how to finance the ever increasing medical costs. Strengthening community care services may provide a way out for settling these concerns. Written by a team of renowned scholars and leading practitioners, this book aims at evaluating how different parties can assist in building up local community capacity to achieve sustainable health and wellness. The book is divided into three sections. The first section discusses the different roles and practices of specialised community care that contribute to the relative success of the healthcare system in Hong Kong. The second section makes use of various research practices to extrapolate future healthcare needs and practices in Hong Kong. And the last one addresses the values of health care which underlie the healthcare culture, structure and practice in Hong Kong over time. Apart from pointing out the limitation of the current system, this book will also discusses the future directions of the healthcare system in order to cope with the challenges in a changing society. Published by City University of Hong Kong Press 香港城市大學出版社出版

This practical manual presents the main drugs and protocols currently used in the psychopharmacological treatment of psychiatric disorders in cancer and palliative care settings and explores the principal issues involved in such treatment. Significant clinical challenges encountered in the psychopharmacological management of various psychiatric conditions are discussed, covering aspects such as side-effects and drug-drug interactions. Attention is also paid to the emerging theme of adjuvant use of psychotropic drugs for the treatment of symptoms or syndromes not primarily related to psychiatric disorders. In addition, practical suggestions are provided for dealing with special populations, including children and the elderly. The book is designed to be easy to read and to reference, with helpful concise tables and boxes. The authors include some of the most renowned clinicians working in the field of psycho-oncology.

This volume creates a multi-disciplinary dialogue about clinician-patient communication. It offers a description of the relevance of culture as a contextual effect that impacts the clinician-patient relationship. Some topics addressed include: oncology care, quality of life issues, supportive survivorship, etc. It is for physicians, nurses, hospice and palliative care professionals and public health professionals.

This title was first published in 2002: Why are rates of suicidal behaviour in Chinese adolescents so high? What factors in school, community, family and interpersonal relationships cause this tragedy? Using key new research from leading researchers and social workers with first hand knowledge of these problems in Hong Kong, this enthralling study examines those most at risk and signposts the most effective interventions in therapy and strategic prevention programmes. The result is a highly original and readable account which will be compulsive reading for social workers and academics around the world.