Palliative care communication.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the challenges of teaching, practicing, and learning palliative care communication and offer resources for improving skills and educating others. DATA SOURCES A theoretically grounded, evidence-based communication curriculum called COMFORT (Communication, Orientation and opportunity, Mindful presence, Family, Openings, Relating, and Team). CONCLUSION: The COMFORT curriculum is available for free through a Web site, a smartphone/iPad application, and online for continuing education units. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE The COMFORT curriculum provides resources to support the expansion and inclusion of palliative care practice not only in oncology, but also in a wide variety of disease contexts.