These pages provide access to resources and literature relevant to the practice of palliative care for pharmacists.

Role in palliative care

This information will help you to find out more about working in palliative care. It may include narratives from those working in the area, descriptions of the role, or why the position is important.

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has a document on the Pharmacist's Role in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Palliative care education and training

There are different ways to develop your knowledge and skills in palliative care. Web based learning modules, short courses and specialist palliative care courses and training are offered in many organisations and universities. Further information can be found on the Education pages of CareSearch.
 
The Program of Experience in the Palliative Approach (PEPA) provides an opportunity for health, aged and community care professionals (including pharmacists and other allied health professionals) working in primary care or non-specialist palliative care settings to improve confidence and develop skills in working with people with palliative care needs. PEPA offers workforce placements of up to five days in specialist palliative care services and tailored workshops in the palliative approach. There is no fee for placements. Participation meets continuing professional development requirements for AHPRA. The program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, all registered health practitioners must undertake Continuing Professional Development.

Research

Many health professionals may be interested in looking at palliative care research questions in their area of specialty. This may be work that is planned for the future. Any palliative care professional, regardless of discipline, is able to access the CareSearch Research Data Management System (RDMS), a tool developed to support research in palliative care.

Resources

• The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
• The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia have a document SHPA Standards of Practice for the Provision of Palliative Care Pharmacy Services that may be of interest.
• Two presentations held on the Palliative Care Australia website may be of interest: Enhancing the role of the community pharmacists in palliative care and Palliative care Community Medications Project
• The WA Cancer & Palliative Care Network has a brochure: Essential palliative care medications list for community pharmacists and General Practitioners

Palliative care links and information

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is the peak national organisation representing the interests and aspirations of all who share the ideal of quality care at the end-of-life for all. It has produced the following policy documents:

• Standards for providing quality palliative care for all Australians
• Palliative care service provision in Australia: a planning guide
• A guide to palliative care service development: A population based approach.

The Department of Health and Ageing website has a palliative care section.

Free Full text Article

• Hussainy SY, Marriott JL, Beattie J, Nation RL, Dooley MJ. A palliative cancer care flexible education program for Australian community pharmacists. Am J Pharm Educ. 2010 Mar 10;74(2):24.
• Sylvester RK, Roberg J, Roden W, Smithson K. A hospice-based advanced pharmacy experience. Am J Pharm Educ. 2009 May 27;73(3):44.
• Crawford G, Price S. Team working: palliative care as a model of interdisciplinary practice. Med J Aust. 2003 Sep 15;179(6 Suppl):S32-4.

Related CareSearch pages

What is palliative care?
Clinical practice
Professional groups
Professional and Service Issues

Some of the following PubMed Topic Searches and Systematic Review Collections may be of interest

Finding Evidence

• PubMed Topic Searches
  • Pain
• CareSearch Review Collection
  • Complementary Therapies
  • Pain

Last updated 23 March 2012