1.The significance of the palliative care unit staffs' participation
Hidehito Takase ; Miho Kitagawa ; Akiko Horie ; Takayuki Sairenji ; Emiko Tachibana ; Tadanobu Tani ; Kiyomi Uemura ; Hitoshi Kuwana
Palliative Care Research 2015;10(3):915-919
Introduction:Although psychosocial support for cancer patients, their family, and those who are bereaved is essential, it is still considered inadequate. Anyone can become a member of the “Gan Cafe” support group, such as those suffering from cancer, those who have survived cancer, family members of cancer patients and those who have lost people to cancer, can get psychosocial support and palliative care support from palliative care unit staff. Case:A 53-year-old male was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001 and underwent surgery. In 2006 he underwent chemotherapy, as he suffered a relapse. In 2012, while undergoing treatment, he joined the “Gan Cafe” along with his family members. He was able to interact with other members of the group and with the staff of the palliative care unit as a cancer patient, while his wife and children could interact with them as cancer patients family members. Six months later, when being admitted to the palliative care unit, the patient and his family members felt secure as they had become well acquainted with the staff at the “Gan Cafe.” After he had passed away, the wife continued to participate in the “Gan Cafe” as a bereaved family member and the same staff provided her with grief support. Conclusion:Through participation in the “Gan Cafe”, the staff of the palliative care unit was able to provide continuous palliative care with a focus on psychosocial support from the pre-hospital stage to grief support after the patients passed away.