Nurturing Socioculturally and Medically Appropriate Palliative Care Delivery: Lessons Learned by Israeli Medical Faculty

Journal of Religion and Health, vol. 61, pp. 1469–1489

Abstract

Israel is one of the few countries worldwide with a national policy and defined standards of palliative care (PC); its culture is highly diverse and more traditionally oriented in comparison with Western countries. This study describes the current state of PC in Israel through examination of: (1) its current status, self-image and structural factors; (2) its relation to cultural and political characteristics; and (3) the chances, goals and obstacles of advancing PC in Israel. Face-to-face interviews were conducted at all five public medical faculties in Israel from November 2017 to February 2018. The following findings are reported: (1) definition of palliative care, (2) multidisciplinary approach, (3) special role of nurses, (4) personal perceptions of death, (5) understanding the role of medicine, (6) specialty palliative medicine, (7) religious, spiritual and cultural aspects, (8) political and economic aspects, (9) obstacles and weaknesses, and (10) prospects and goals of palliative care. Participants perceive PC as an integrative healthcare service that should be available to all patients, including children and their families, at any stage of illness. They internalize that PC principles apply regardless of ethnic, cultural, and religious background. Utilizing nurses' leadership, enhancing multidisciplinary teamwork, and person-centered approach, supports better PC to more people.

Authors 5

1. Piret Paal corresponding

   Paracelsus Medical University

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. piret.paal@pmu.ac.at

   Institute of Nursing Science and Practice, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 21, 5020, Salzburg, Austria

2. Anne Müller Aachen Department of Palliative Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department for Internal Medicine, St. Elisabeth-Krankenhaus Geilenkirchen, Geilenkirchen, Germany

   Department of Palliative Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

3. Woukelyne Gil

   Rambam Health Care Campus

   Affiliation as printed

   Rambam Health Care Campus, Tel-Aviv, Israel

4. Gil Goldzweig

   Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yafo

   Affiliation as printed

   School of Behavioral Sciences, Academic College of Tel-Aviv-Yafo, Tel-Aviv, Israel

5. Frank Elsner Aachen Department of Palliative Medicine

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Palliative Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany