Two worldviews of palliative care

Abstract

Background: Scarce information has been collected regarding how the construct of palliative care is conceptualised from the clinicians’ perspective. Aims: This article outlines the components of two worldviews of palliative care, highlighting the tension that exists between a holistic worldview focussed on social connectedness and the “total care” of a person and the bio-medical worldview focussed on the control and mastery of disease. Method: Employing data from 7 clinician interviews from the ‘Inappropriate admissions/treatment amongst inpatients with palliative care needs’ project, qualitative interpretive measures of word-use patterns (in discussing palliative care issues) are explored within the context of one urban hospital in New Zealand. Results: Profiles are constructed of the salient features differentiating the holistic and bio-medical worldviews. Implications of these two models for patient care are discussed.