Palliative care as a specialist health field draws upon a multidisciplinary body of evidence to support its practice. These pages are designed to support clinical practice by summarising the state of the evidence and by providing clinicians with access to relevant literature where possible.

There are sets of pages relating to the following areas:

• Physical symptoms:
  Information on the evidence relating to the assessment and management of common symptoms such as fatigue, breathing problems, pain and nausea.
• Psychological, social and spiritual issues:
  Comprehensive care needs to recognise psychological, spiritual and social care and support.
• Patient Considerations:
  Issues such as Advance Care Planning and Complementary Therapies
• Professional and Service Issues: 
  Issues relating to service provision and professional practice. 
• Carers and Families: 
  Information for health professionals on carer and family considerations
• Diseases and Conditions:
  Evidence relating to some of the underlying diseases and conditions of palliative care patients that may influence aspects of their care
• Specific Populations:
  Provides information about a range of groups such as those with dementia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Paediatric patients.

The content for these pages has been developed following a search of multiple literature databases for systematic reviews relevant to the clinical topic. From this basis, the key issues, limitations and contexts for practice have been summarised. Each page also provides links to sources of clinical guidance and ways to find out more. They are intended to be dynamic being modified as the evidence base evolves.

The specific populations included in these pages were identified following discussion with the National Advisory Group.

This page was last updated 23 October 2010