Introduction: The Complexity of End-of-Life Care End-of-life (EOL) care encompasses a comprehensive range of medical, psychological, social, and spiritual support designed to maximize comfort and quality of life for individuals facing terminal illness. Despite widespread recognition of the benefits of palliative and hospice care, numerous significant obstacles impede timely access and effective delivery of these […]
Conceptualizing Family Presence in Critical Settings Family presence, particularly within acute and critical care environments, represents a significant paradigm shift in healthcare delivery, moving away from closed, exclusionary models toward a philosophy rooted in patient-centered care. Defined broadly, family presence (FP) involves allowing loved ones to remain at the patient’s bedside during stressful or invasive […]
Introduction to Informal Care in Clinical Settings Informal care, within the context of the acute hospital environment, refers to the unpaid assistance provided by family members, friends, or significant others to the patient during their stay. This type of care differs fundamentally from formal care, which is delivered by salaried, professionally trained healthcare personnel such […]
Historical Context of Treatment and Stigma Historically, the societal response to individuals experiencing mental illness has been characterized by profound misunderstanding, fear, and subsequent isolation. Before the advent of modern psychiatry and psychology, behaviors directed toward these individuals often ranged from neglect to outright cruelty, rooted in beliefs that mental disturbances were supernatural afflictions, moral […]
Introduction to Awareness of Pathology Awareness of pathology, often referred to synonymously as insight within clinical psychology and psychiatry, represents a fundamental cognitive and emotional capacity required for an individual to recognize, understand, and acknowledge the presence of a mental or physical illness, including the impact that illness has on their life, behavior, and relationships. […]
Introduction and Conceptual Framework of Patient Advocacy Attitudes toward patient advocacy represent a critical area of study within health psychology, medical sociology, and healthcare administration, reflecting the collective disposition, beliefs, and emotional responses stakeholders hold regarding the active support and representation of patients’ rights, needs, and preferences. Historically, the patient role was largely characterized by […]
Attitudes Towards Patient Involvement in Non-Therapeutic Research The landscape of biomedical and psychological inquiry increasingly recognizes the crucial role of patient perspectives, extending participation beyond traditional therapeutic clinical trials into the realm of non-therapeutic research. Non-therapeutic research, often defined as studies primarily designed for the advancement of general scientific knowledge without the expectation of providing […]
Attitudes toward Pharmaceutical Marketing: An Overview The study of attitudes toward pharmaceutical marketing constitutes a critical area within health psychology, consumer behavior, and medical ethics, given the profound implications of pharmaceutical promotion on public health outcomes, healthcare costs, and patient trust. Attitudes, generally conceptualized as enduring evaluations—positive or negative—of people, objects, or issues, are particularly […]
Conceptualizing Support Person Presence Attitudes toward the presence of a support person represent a critical area of psychological and medical inquiry, fundamentally addressing the intersection of personal vulnerability and social connection within often stressful clinical environments. The concept of a Support Person Presence (SPP) extends far beyond mere visitation rights; it signifies the active, sanctioned […]